Fine specificity of anti-MSP119 antibodies and multiplicity of Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 types in individuals in Nigeria with sub-microscopic infection.
BACKGROUND
The absence of antibodies specific for the 19 kDa C-terminal domain of merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP119) has been associated with high-density malaria parasitaemia in African populations. The hypothesis that a high prevalence and/or level of anti-MSP119 antibodies that may inhibit erythrocyte invasion would be present in apparently healthy individuals who harbour a sub-microscopic malaria infection was tested in this study.


METHODS
Plasma samples were collected from residents in a region in Nigeria hyperendemic for malaria, who had no detectable parasitaemia by microscopy. Using a competition-based enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay with two invasion-inhibitory monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) 12.10 and 12.8, the levels and prevalence of specific antibodies were measured. The minimum multiplicity of infection was determined using PCR. The prevalence of anaemia was also measured.


RESULTS
Plasma samples from 85% of individuals contained antibodies that bound to MSP119. The inhibition of mAb 12.10 binding was strongly correlated with the prevalence (Spearman correlation test, p < 0.0001) and mean titre of anti-MSP119 antibodies (Spearman correlation test, p < 0.001) in the samples. Comparing samples from individuals with multiple infection (group M) and single infection (Group S), group M contained a higher (p = 0.04) prevalence of anti-MSP119 antibodies that competed with mAb 12.10. Using a logistic regression model, it was found that the presence of antibodies competitive with mAb 12.10 was affected negatively by anaemia (p = 0.0016) and positively by the carriage of multiple parasite genotypes (p = 0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
In the search for correlates of protection against malaria, which will be essential to evaluate clinical trials of malaria vaccines based on MSP1, this study examines some potential assays and the factors that need to taken into account during their evaluation, using samples from individuals naturally exposed to malaria infection.
1Université des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku, Franceville, Gabon.
Josiane
J
Ngoundou-Landji
Roseangela I
RI
Nwuba
Chiaka I
CI
Anumudu
Alexander B
AB
Odaibo
Wenceslas D
WD
Matondo Maya
Henrietta O
HO
Awobode
Christian M
CM
Okafor
Olajumoke A
OA
Morenikeji
Adanze
A
Asinobi
Mark
M
Nwagwu
Anthony A
AA
Holder
Francine
F
Ntoumi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D001769:Blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D008853:Microscopy; D009549:Nigeria; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000469:parasitology*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1