title: Antibodies to the N-terminal block 2 of Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 are associated with protection against clinical malaria.
abstract: This longitudinal prospective study shows that antibodies to the N-terminal block 2 region of the Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP-1) are associated with protection against clinical malaria in an area of stable but seasonal malaria transmission of Ghana. Antibodies to the block 2 region of MSP-1 were measured in a cohort of 280 children before the beginning of the major malaria transmission season. The cohort was then actively monitored for malaria, clinically and parasitologically, over a period of 17 months. Evidence is presented for an association between antibody responses to block 2 and a significantly reduced risk of subsequent clinical malaria. Furthermore, statistical survival analysis provides new information on the duration of the effect over time. The results support a conclusion that the block 2 region of MSP-1 is a target of protective immunity against P. falciparum and, thus, a promising new candidate for the development of a malaria vaccine.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cell, Animal and Population Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings, West Mains Rd., EH9 3JT, Scotland, UK. david.cavanagh@ed.ac.uk
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Cavanagh
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dodoo
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hviid
authors.forename: Jørgen A L
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kurtzhals
authors.forename: Thor G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Theander
authors.forename: Bartholomew D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Akanmori
authors.forename: Spencer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Polley
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.forename: Kojo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koram
authors.forename: Jana S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: McBride
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1