title: Maternal-foetal transfer of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax antibodies in a low transmission setting.
abstract: During pregnancy immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies are transferred from mother to neonate across the placenta. Studies in high transmission areas have shown transfer of P. falciparum-specific IgG, but the extent and factors influencing maternal-foetal transfer in low transmission areas co-endemic for both P. falciparum and P. vivax are unknown. Pregnant women were screened weekly for Plasmodium infection. Mother-neonate paired serum samples at delivery were tested for IgG to antigens from P. falciparum, P. vivax and other infectious diseases. Antibodies to malarial and non-malarial antigens were highly correlated between maternal and neonatal samples (median [range] spearman ρ = 0.78 [0.57-0.93]), although Plasmodium spp. antibodies tended to be lower in neonates than mothers. Estimated gestational age at last P. falciparum infection, but not P. vivax infection, was positively associated with antibody levels in the neonate (P. falciparum merozoite, spearman ρ median [range] 0.42 [0.33-0.66], PfVAR2CSA 0.69; P. vivax ρ = 0.19 [0.09-0.3]). Maternal-foetal transfer of anti-malarial IgG to Plasmodium spp. antigens occurs in low transmission settings. P. vivax IgG acquisition is not associated with recent exposure unlike P. falciparum IgG, suggesting a difference in acquisition of antibodies. IgG transfer is greatest in the final weeks of pregnancy which has implications for the timing of future malaria vaccination strategies in pregnant women.
authors: Macfarlane Burnet Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia.
authors: Sarah C
authors: SC
authors: Charnaud
authors: Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand.|Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.|Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors: Rose
authors: R
authors: McGready
authors: Macfarlane Burnet Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia.|Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Australia.
authors: Asha
authors: A
authors: Herten-Crabb
authors: Macfarlane Burnet Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia.
authors: Rosanna
authors: R
authors: Powell
authors: Macfarlane Burnet Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia.|Department of Immunology, Monash University, Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct, Melbourne, Australia.
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Guy
authors: Macfarlane Burnet Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia.
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Langer
authors: Macfarlane Burnet Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia.|Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Australia.
authors: Jack S
authors: JS
authors: Richards
authors: Macfarlane Burnet Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia.
authors: Paul R
authors: PR
authors: Gilson
authors: Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Thailand.
authors: Kesinee
authors: K
authors: Chotivanich
authors: Division of Malaria Research, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan.
authors: Takafumi
authors: T
authors: Tsuboi
authors: Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, NIAID/NIH, Rockville, MD, USA.
authors: David L
authors: DL
authors: Narum
authors: Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand.
authors: Mupawjay
authors: M
authors: Pimanpanarak
authors: Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Melbourne, Australia.
authors: Julie A
authors: JA
authors: Simpson
authors: Macfarlane Burnet Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia.|Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Australia.
authors: James G
authors: JG
authors: Beeson
authors: Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand.|Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.|Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors: François
authors: F
authors: Nosten
authors: Macfarlane Burnet Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia.|Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Melbourne, Australia.|Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.|Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors: Freya J I
authors: FJ
authors: Fowkes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission*; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000276:immunology*; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G