Expression of merozoite surface protein markers by Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes in peripheral blood and tissues of children with fatal malaria.
Sequestration of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes is a pathological feature of fatal cerebral malaria. P. falciparum is genetically diverse among, and often within, patients. Preferential sequestration of certain genotypes might be important in pathogenesis. We compared circulating parasites with parasites sequestered in the brain, spleen, liver, and lung in the same Malawian children with fatal malaria, classifying serotypes using antibodies to merozoite surface proteins 1 and 2 and immunofluorescence in order to differentiate parasites and to quantify the proportions of each serotype. We found (i) similar distributions of various serotypes in different tissues and (ii) concordance between parasite serotypes in peripheral blood and parasite serotypes in tissues. No serotypes predominated in the brain in cerebral malaria, and parasites belonging to a single serotype did not cluster within individual vessels or within single tissues. These findings do not support the hypothesis that cerebral malaria is caused by cerebral sequestration of certain virulent types.
Dobaño
Carlota
C
Centre de Salut Internacional, Hospital Clínic/IDIBAPS, Universitat de Barcelona, E-08036 Barcelona, Spain. cdobano@clinic.ub.es
Rogerson
Stephen J
SJ
Taylor
Terrie E
TE
McBride
Jana S
JS
Molyneux
Malcolm E
ME
D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D001921:Brain / Q000469:parasitology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology; D008168:Lung / Q000469:parasitology; D016779:Malaria, Cerebral / Q000469:parasitology*; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000469:parasitology*; D008295:Malawi; D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D012703:Serotyping; D013154:Spleen / Q000469:parasitology
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D015415:Biomarkers; D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C065974:merozoite surface protein 2, Plasmodium