High levels of serum antibodies to merozoite surface protein 2 of Plasmodium falciparum are associated with reduced risk of clinical malaria in coastal Kenya.
The merozoite surface protein (MSP) 2 is a vaccine candidate antigen of Plasmodium falciparum that is polymorphic in natural populations. In a prospective cohort study in two coastal populations of Kenya using recombinant proteins derived from the two major allelic types of MSP2, high serum levels of IgG to MSP2 were associated with protection from clinical malaria. This protection was independent of that associated with antibodies to another vaccine candidate antigen (AMA1) in these populations. However, low antibody levels to MSP2 appeared to be associated with increased susceptibility to malaria within people who were parasite negative at the time of serum collection. These data suggest that an MSP2 based vaccine should be designed to induce high level antibody responses against the different MSP2 types present globally in P. falciparum populations and that MSP2 could be combined with other P. falciparum antigens to form a multi-component malaria vaccine.
Polley
Spencer D
SD
Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK. spencer.polley@lshtm.ac.uk
Conway
David J
DJ
Cavanagh
David R
DR
McBride
Jana S
JS
Lowe
Brett S
BS
Williams
Thomas N
TN
Mwangi
Tabitha W
TW
Marsh
Kevin
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D017780:Malaria Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D017780:Malaria Vaccines; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C090077:apical membrane antigen I, Plasmodium; C065974:merozoite surface protein 2, Plasmodium