Does infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus affect the antibody responses to Plasmodium falciparum antigenic determinants in asymptomatic pregnant women?
OBJECTIVE
HIV-seropositive pregnant women are more susceptible to malaria than HIV-seronegative women. We assessed whether HIV infection alters maternal and cord plasma malarial antibody responses and the mother-to-infant transfer of malaria antibodies.


METHODS
We determined plasma levels of maternal and cord antibodies [Immunoglobulin (IgG)] to recombinant malarial proteins [merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP-1(19kD)), the erythrocyte binding antigen (EBA-175)], the synthetic peptides [MSP-2, MSP-3, rhoptry associated protein 1 (RAP-1), and the pre-erythrocytic stage, circumsporozoite protein (NANP)(5)] antigenic determinants of Plasmodium falciparum; and tetanus toxoid (TT) by ELISA among samples of 99 HIV-seropositive mothers, 69 of their infants, 102 HIV-seronegative mothers and 62 of their infants.


RESULTS
The prevalence of maternal antibodies to the malarial antigenic determinants ranged from 18% on MSP3 to 91% on EBA-175; in cord plasma it ranged from 13% to 91%, respectively. More than 97% of maternal and cord samples had antibodies to TT. In multivariate analysis, HIV infection was only associated with reduced antibodies to (NANP)(5) in maternal (P=0.001) and cord plasma (P=0.001); and reduced mother-to-infant antibody transfer to (NANP)(5) (P=0.012). This effect of HIV was independent of maternal age, gravidity and placental malaria. No consistent HIV-associated differences were observed for other antigenic determinants.


CONCLUSIONS
An effect of HIV infection was only observed on one malarial antigenic determinant, suggesting that the increased susceptibility to malaria among HIV-infected pregnant women may not be explained on the basis of their reduced antibody response to malaria antigens.
Ayisi
J G
JG
Centre for Vector Biology & Control Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya.
Branch
OraLee H
OH
Rafi-Janajreh
A
A
van Eijk
A M
AM
ter Kuile
F O
FO
Rosen
D H
DH
Kager
P A
PA
Lanar
D E
DE
Barbosa
A
A
Kaslow
D
D
Nahlen
B L
BL
Lal
A A
AA
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood; D000939:Epitopes / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000276:immunology*; D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1 / Q000097:blood; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000097:blood
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C065668:erythrocyte-binding antigen 175, Plasmodium; C065352:rhoptry associated protein, Plasmodium