First attempt to validate the gSG6-P1 salivary peptide as an immuno-epidemiological tool for evaluating human exposure to Anopheles funestus bites.
OBJECTIVE
The development of a biomarker of exposure based on the evaluation of the human antibody response specific to Anopheles salivary proteins seems promising in improving malaria control. The IgG response specific to the gSG6-P1 peptide has already been validated as a biomarker of An. gambiae exposure. This study represents a first attempt to validate the gSG6-P1 peptide as an epidemiological tool evaluating exposure to An. funestus bites, the second main malaria vector in sub-Saharan Africa.


METHODS
A multi-disciplinary survey was performed in a Senegalese village where An. funestus represents the principal anopheline species. The IgG antibody level specific to gSG6-P1 was evaluated and compared in the same children before, at the peak and after the rainy season.


RESULTS
Two-thirds of the children developed a specific IgG response to gSG6-P1 during the study period and--more interestingly--before the rainy season, when An. funestus was the only anopheline species reported. The specific IgG response increased during the An. funestus exposure season, and a positive association between the IgG level and the level of exposure to An. funestus bites was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that the evaluation of the IgG response specific to gSG6-P1 in children could also represent a biomarker of exposure to An. funestus bites. The availability of such a biomarker evaluating the exposure to both main Plasmodium falciparum vectors in Africa could be particularly relevant as a direct criterion for the evaluation of the efficacy of vector control strategies.
Poinsignon
Anne
A
Unité Caractérisation et Contrôle des Populations de Vecteurs, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Montpellier, France.
Samb
Badara
B
Doucoure
Souleymane
S
Drame
Papa-Makhtar
PM
Sarr
Jean Biram
JB
Sow
Cheikh
C
Cornelie
Sylvie
S
Maiga
Sophie
S
Thiam
Cheikh
C
Rogerie
François
F
Guindo
Sohidou
S
Hermann
Emmanuel
E
Simondon
François
F
Dia
Ibrahima
I
Riveau
Gilles
G
Konate
Lassana
L
Remoue
Franck
F
D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000276:immunology*; D012675:Senegal
D015415:Biomarkers; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D019476:Insect Proteins; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; C552919:gSG6-P1 peptide, human