title: Novel flow cytometry technique for detection of Plasmodium falciparum specific B-cells in humans: increased levels of specific B-cells in ongoing infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum is still a major health threat in endemic areas especially for children below 5 years of age. While it is recognized that antibody immunity plays an important role in controlling the disease, knowledge of the mechanisms of sustenance and natural boosting of immunity is very limited. Before, it has not been possible to investigate malaria specific B-cells directly in flow cytometry, making it difficult to know how much of a B cell response is due to malaria, or how much is due to other immunological stimulators.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study developed a technique using quantum dots and schizont extract made from ghosts of infected erythrocytes, to be able to investigate P. falciparum specific B-cells, something that has never been done before.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Major differences in P. falciparum specific B-cells were found between samples from immune (22.3 %) and non-immune (1.7 %) individuals. Samples from parasite positive individuals had the highest proportions of specific B-cells (27.9 %).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study showed increased levels of P. falciparum-specific B-cells in immune individuals, with the highest levels in active malaria infections, using a new technique that opens up new possibilities to study how these cells are sustained in vivo after natural infections. It will also be useful in vaccine studies.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. aluggs@gmail.com.|Microbiology, Tumor, and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden. aluggs@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lugaajju
authors.affiliation: Microbiology, Tumor, and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden. sree.basireddy77@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sreenivasulu B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.affiliation: Microbiology, Tumor, and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden. caroline.ronnberg@ki.se.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rönnberg
authors.affiliation: Microbiology, Tumor, and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden. Mats.Wahlgren@ki.se.
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wahlgren
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. faskironde@gmail.com.|Habib Medical School, Islamic University in Uganda, Kampala, Uganda. faskironde@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kironde
authors.affiliation: Microbiology, Tumor, and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden. kristina.persson@med.lu.se.|Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. kristina.persson@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Kristina E M
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Persson
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000469:parasitology*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000469:parasitology; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D010274:Parasitology / Q000379:methods*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D015800:Protozoan Proteins