title: High antibody responses against Plasmodium falciparum in immigrants after extended periods of interrupted exposure to malaria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malaria immunity is commonly believed to wane in the absence of Plasmodium falciparum exposure, based on limited epidemiological data and short-lived antibody responses in some longitudinal studies in endemic areas.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted among sub-Saharan African adults residing in Spain for 1 up to 38 years (immigrants) with clinical malaria (n=55) or without malaria (n=37), naïve adults (travelers) with a first clinical malaria episode (n=20) and life-long malaria exposed adults from Mozambique (semi-immune adults) without malaria (n=27) or with clinical malaria (n=50). Blood samples were collected and IgG levels against the erythrocytic antigens AMA-1 and MSP-1₄₂ (3D7 and FVO strains), EBA-175 and DBL-α were determined by Luminex. IgG levels against antigens on the surface of infected erythrocytes (IEs) were measured by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immigrants without malaria had lower IgG levels than healthy semi-immune adults regardless of the antigen tested (P≤0.026), but no correlation was found between IgG levels and time since migration. Upon reinfection, immigrants with malaria had higher levels of IgG against all antigens than immigrants without malaria. However, the magnitude of the response compared to semi-immune adults with malaria depended on the antigen tested. Thus, immigrants had higher IgG levels against AMA-1 and MSP-1₄₂ (P≤0.015), similar levels against EBA-175 and DBL-α, and lower levels against IEs (P≤0.016). Immigrants had higher IgG levels against all antigens tested compared to travelers (P≤0.001), both with malaria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Upon cessation of malaria exposure, IgG responses to malaria-specific antigens were maintained to a large extent, although the conservation and the magnitude of the recall response depended on the nature of the antigen. Studies on immigrant populations can shed light on the factors that determine the duration of malaria specific antibody responses and its effect on protection, with important implications for future vaccine design and public health control measures.
authors: Barcelona Centre for International Health Research-CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona-Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. gemma.moncunill@cresib.cat
authors: Gemma
authors: G
authors: Moncunill
authors: Alfredo
authors: A
authors: Mayor
authors: Alfons
authors: A
authors: Jiménez
authors: Augusto
authors: A
authors: Nhabomba
authors: Núria
authors: N
authors: Casas-Vila
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Puyol
authors: Joseph J
authors: JJ
authors: Campo
authors: Maria Nelia
authors: MN
authors: Manaca
authors: Ruth
authors: R
authors: Aguilar
authors: María-Jesús
authors: MJ
authors: Pinazo
authors: Mercè
authors: M
authors: Almirall
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Soler
authors: José
authors: J
authors: Muñoz
authors: Azucena
authors: A
authors: Bardají
authors: Evelina
authors: E
authors: Angov
authors: Sheetij
authors: S
authors: Dutta
authors: Chetan E
authors: CE
authors: Chitnis
authors: Pedro L
authors: PL
authors: Alonso
authors: Joaquim
authors: J
authors: Gascón
authors: Carlota
authors: C
authors: Dobaño
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D014195:Travel
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
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