High titers of IgG antibodies against Plasmodium falciparum serine repeat antigen 5 (SERA5) are associated with protection against severe malaria in Ugandan children.

Abstract

Plasmodium falciparum serine repeat antigen (SERA5) is a promising asexual blood stage malaria candidate vaccine. However, there is a paucity of information about natural immune responses to SERA5 in children from malaria-endemic regions. We undertook a hospital-based case-control study of severe malaria in Apac District, Northern Uganda, in children 6-59 months of age. The commonest symptoms observed in children with severe malaria (SM) were respiratory distress (53.4%) and prostration (40.4%) followed by circulatory collapse (7.4%), severe anemia (Hb < 5 g/dL, 7.0%), and seizures (2.6%). None of the SM children had impaired consciousness, coma, or cerebral malaria. We measured serum IgG antibodies using a recombinant construct of SERA5 (SE36) in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. High titers of IgG anti-SE36 were associated with protection against severe malaria in children under 5 years old.

• Authors: Brenda Okech, Godfrey Mujuzi, Alex Ogwal, Hiroki Shirai, Toshihiro Horii, Thomas G Egwang
• Journal: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene (Am J Trop Med Hyg) Vol. 74 Issue 2 Pg. 191-7 (Feb 2006) ISSN: 0002-9637 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16474069 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Protozoan
• Antigens, Protozoan
• Immunoglobulin G
• Malaria Vaccines
• serine repeat antigen 5, Plasmodium falciparum

Topics

• Animals
• Antibodies, Protozoan (blood)
• Antigens, Protozoan (immunology)
• Case-Control Studies
• Child, Hospitalized (statistics & numerical data)
• Child, Preschool
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Female
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin G (immunology)
• Infant
• Malaria Vaccines
• Malaria, Falciparum (epidemiology, pathology, prevention & control)
• Male
• Plasmodium falciparum (immunology)
• Severity of Illness Index
• Uganda (epidemiology)