Antibodies to a recombinant glutamate-rich Plasmodium falciparum protein: evidence for protection of individuals living in a holoendemic area of Liberia.

Abstract

A Plasmodium falciparum antigen gene coding for a 220-kD glutamate-rich protein (GLURP) has been cloned, and the 783 C-terminal amino acids of this protein (GLURP489-1271) have been expressed as a beta-galactosidase fusion protein in Escherichia coli. The encoded 783 amino acid residues contain two areas of repeated amino acid sequences. Antibodies against recombinant GLURP489-1271, as well as against a synthetic peptide corresponding to GLURP899-916, and against a synthetic peptide representing the major glutamate rich repeat sequence from the P. falciparum ring erythrocyte surface antigen (Pf155/RESA) (EENV)6 were examined in 423 individuals (age range 30 days-78 years) living in a malaria holoendemic area of Liberia. In the 5-9-year-old age group, subjects with anti-GLURP489-1271 antibody concentrations greater than the mean value of the group had lower parasite densities than those with low antibody concentrations (P = 0.0151). High levels of anti-GLURP899-916 antibodies did not correlate with low parasite densities. However, high levels of anti-(EENV)6 antibodies were associated with significantly lower parasite densities in the 2-4-year-old age group (P = 0.0189). There was no correlation between the anti-GLURP489-1271 and anti-(EENV)6 antibody responses. The data provide indirect evidence for a protective role of antibodies reacting with recombinant GLURP489-1271 as well as with the synthetic peptide (EENV)6 from the Pf155/RESA.

• Authors: B Hogh, E Petersen, M Dziegiel, K David, A Hanson, M Borre, A Holm, J Vuust, S Jepsen
• Journal: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene (Am J Trop Med Hyg) Vol. 46 Issue 3 Pg. 307-13 (Mar 1992) ISSN: 0002-9637 [Print] United States
• PMID: 1558270 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Protozoan
• Protozoan Proteins
• Recombinant Proteins
• glutamate-rich protein, Plasmodium

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Age Factors
• Aged
• Amino Acid Sequence
• Animals
• Antibodies, Protozoan (blood)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Humans
• Infant
• Liberia (epidemiology)
• Malaria, Falciparum (epidemiology, prevention & control)
• Middle Aged
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Protozoan Proteins (chemistry, immunology)
• Recombinant Proteins (chemistry, immunology)
• Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid