title: Miniaturization of a high-throughput pLDH-based Plasmodium falciparum growth inhibition assay for small volume samples from preclinical and clinical vaccine trials.
abstract: To date, no immune correlates for blood stage-specific immunity against Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites have been identified. Growth and/or invasion inhibition assays using sera from Phase 2a/b trials will aid in determining whether correlations with protective immunity can be established for these assays. A major constraint in the ability to evaluate functional antibody activities from populations in endemic areas is the relatively limited availability of sufficient sample quantity. For this reason, we developed a miniaturized and high-throughput method to measure growth inhibitory activity by quantification of parasite lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) in a 384-microtiter plate format. This culture method can be extended beyond the pLDH-based readout to other techniques commonly used to determine growth/invasion inhibition.
authors.affiliation: US Military Malaria Vaccine Program, Division of Malaria Vaccine Development, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. elke.bergmannleitner@us.army.mil
authors.forename: Elke S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Bergmann-Leitner
authors.forename: Elizabeth H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: John Robert
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Burge
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spring
authors.forename: Evelina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Angov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods*; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D017780:Malaria Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology; D008904:Miniaturization / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D017780:Malaria Vaccines; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase