title: Substantially reduced pre-patent parasite multiplication rates are associated with naturally acquired immunity to Plasmodium falciparum.
abstract: Naturally acquired immunity to Plasmodium falciparum's asexual blood stage reduces parasite multiplication at microscopically detectable densities. The effect of natural immunity on initial prepatent parasite multiplication during the period following a new infection has been uncertain, contributing to doubt regarding the utility of experimental challenge models for blood-stage vaccine trials. Here we present data revealing that parasite multiplication rates during the initial prepatent period in semi-immune Gambian adults are substantially lower than in malaria-naive participants. This supports the view that a blood-stage vaccine capable of emulating the disease-reducing effect of natural immunity could achieve a detectable effect during the prepatent period.
authors: Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, UK. sandy.douglas@ndm.ox.ac.uk
authors: A D
authors: AD
authors: Douglas
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Andrews
authors: S J
authors: SJ
authors: Draper
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Bojang
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Milligan
authors: S C
authors: SC
authors: Gilbert
authors: E B
authors: EB
authors: Imoukhuede
authors: A V S
authors: AV
authors: Hill
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000328:Adult; D005714:Gambia; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000276:immunology*; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D010274:Parasitology / Q000379:methods*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology*