Immunogenicity and antigenic properties of Pf332-C231, a fragment of a non-repeat region of the Plasmodium falciparum antigen Pf332.
Antigen Pf332, a megadalton protein has been shown to be associated with the membrane of infected erythrocytes. Detailed functional studies on the antigen have remained hampered by the cross-reactive nature of antibodies generated to Pf332. Pf332-C231, identified in the C-terminal region of Pf332 was cloned and antibodies against the C231 fragment were shown to react with intact Pf332 antigen by both immunofluorescence and immunoblotting analyses. Antibodies to C231 inhibited in vitro Plasmodium falciparum growth efficiently. In addition, human sera from malaria-exposed individuals reacted with recombinant C231. We show that Pf332-C231 represents a functional domain and is expected to facilitate further studies on Pf332 as a potential target for protective immune responses and the function of the antigen.
Balogun
H A
HA
Department of Immunology, Stockholm University, Svante Arrheniusv 16, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
Vasconcelos
N-M
NM
Lindberg
R
R
Haeggström
M
M
Moll
K
K
Chen
Q
Q
Wahlgren
M
M
Berzins
K
K
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D019295:Computational Biology; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D011817:Rabbits; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C073415:antigen Pf332, Plasmodium