title: First characterization of Plasmodium vivax liver stage antigen (PvLSA) using synthetic peptides.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plasmodium vivax is the most widespread human malaria in tropical and subtropical countries, including the Republic of Korea. Vivax malaria is characterized by hypnozoite relapse and long latency infection by the retained liver stage of P. vivax, and somewhat surprisingly, little is known of the liver stage antigens of this parasite. Here, we report for the first time the characterization of a liver stage antigen of P. vivax (PvLSA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Five peptides located inside PvLSA were synthesized, and specific anti-sera to the respective peptides were used to localize PvLSA on P. vivax parasites in human liver cells by immunofluorescence. Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were performed using the five peptides and sera collected from vivax malaria patients and from normal healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PvLSA was localized on P. vivax parasites in human liver cells. Vivax malaria-infected patients were detected using the five peptides by western blotting. Furthermore, the peptides reacted with the sera of vivax malaria patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that PvLSA may function during the liver stage of P. vivax.
authors: Youn-Kyoung
authors: YK
authors: Goo
authors: Eun-Jeong
authors: EJ
authors: Seo
authors: Yeon-Kyung
authors: YK
authors: Choi
authors: Hyun-Il
authors: HI
authors: Shin
authors: Jetsumon
authors: J
authors: Sattabongkot
authors: So-Young
authors: SY
authors: Ji
authors: Chom-Kyu
authors: CK
authors: Chong
authors: Shin-Hyung
authors: SH
authors: Cho
authors: Won-Ja
authors: WJ
authors: Lee
authors: Division of Malaria and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Health, Korea CDC, Osong Saeng-myeong 2 ro, Osong Health Technology Administration Complex 187, Osong, Republic of Korea. jykim-malaria@nih.go.kr.
authors: Jung-Yeon
authors: JY
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000276:immunology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D010455:Peptides; C067302:liver stage-specific antigen, Plasmodium