Anemia and antibodies to the 19-kDa fragment of MSP1 during Plasmodium falciparum infection in Aotus monkeys.

Abstract

To determine whether antibodies to the 19-kDa fragment of merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1(19)) help to control blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum infection, we performed a rechallenge experiment of previously infected Aotus monkeys. Monkeys previously exposed to the FVO strain of P. falciparum that did or did not develop high antibody titers to MSP1(19) and malaria-naïve monkeys were challenged with erythrocytes infected with the same strain. Prepatent periods were prolonged in previously infected monkeys compared with malaria-naïve monkeys. Previously infected monkeys with preexisting anti-MSP1(19) antibodies showed low peak parasitemias that cleared spontaneously. Previously infected monkeys that had no or low levels of pre-existing anti-MSP1(19) antibodies also showed low peak parasitemias, but because of low hematocrits, all of these animals required treatment with mefloquine. All previously malaria-naïve animals were treated because of high parasitemias. The results of this study suggest that antibody to the 19-kDa carboxy-terminal fragment of MSP1 plays a role in preventing the development of anemia, an important complication often associated with malaria.

• Authors: Alfonso S Gozalo, Carmen M Lucas, Jing Qin, B Ted Hall, Alan J Magill
• Journal: Comparative medicine (Comp Med) Vol. 57 Issue 4 Pg. 396-401 (Aug 2007) ISSN: 1532-0820 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17803055 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Protozoan
• Antimalarials
• Merozoite Surface Protein 1
• Mefloquine

Topics

• Anemia (immunology, parasitology, pathology)
• Animals
• Antibodies, Protozoan (blood, immunology)
• Antimalarials (therapeutic use)
• Aotidae
• Disease Models, Animal
• Erythrocytes (parasitology)
• Malaria, Falciparum (complications, immunology, pathology)
• Mefloquine (therapeutic use)
• Merozoite Surface Protein 1 (administration & dosage, immunology)
• Monkey Diseases (immunology, parasitology, pathology)
• Parasitemia (drug therapy, immunology)
• Plasmodium falciparum (growth & development, immunology)