This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Yone, C. L. R. P. Articles by Luty, A. J. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Yone, C. L. R. P. Articles by Luty, A. J. F.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Infection and Immunity, April 2005, p. 2281-2287, Vol. 73, No. 4
0019-9567/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/IAI.73.4.2281-2287.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Immunoglobulin G Isotype Responses to Erythrocyte Surface-Expressed Variant Antigens of Plasmodium falciparum Predict Protection from Malaria in African Children

Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany,¹ Medical Research Unit, Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Lambaréné, Gabon²

Received 28 May 2004/ Returned for modification 14 July 2004/ Accepted 24 November 2004

We assessed immunoglobulin G (IgG) isotype responses to variant surface antigens (VSA) expressed on parasite-infected erythrocytes of a panel of heterologous isolates during and after acute episodes in groups of Gabonese children presenting with either mild or severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria. In the acute and convalescent phases IgG3 and IgG1 anti-VSA antibodies, respectively, predominated. In the absence of infection, the levels of both cytophilic isotypes waned, while those of IgG4 increased, particularly in those admitted with severe malaria. Prospective analyses showed significantly longer delays between malaria attacks associated both (i) with increasing IgG1 responses with specificity for VSA of isolates from children with mild malaria and (ii) with increasing IgG4 responses with specificity for VSA of isolates from children with severe malaria. These findings imply that the predictive value of prospectively measured cross-reactive VSA-specific IgG antibodies with respect to protection against malaria in African children depends both on their isotype and on their fine specificity.

Editor: W. A. Petri, Jr.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• OUMA, C., KELLER, C. C., OPONDO, D. A., WERE, T., OTIENO, R. O., OTIENO, M. F., ORAGO, A. S. S., ONG'ECHA, J. M., VULULE, J. M., FERRELL, R. E., PERKINS, D. J. (2006). ASSOCIATION OF FC{gamma} RECEPTOR IIA (CD32) POLYMORPHISM WITH MALARIAL ANEMIA AND HIGH-DENSITY PARASITEMIA IN INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN. Am J Trop Med Hyg 74: 573-577 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Elliott, S. R., Brennan, A. K., Beeson, J. G., Tadesse, E., Molyneux, M. E., Brown, G. V., Rogerson, S. J. (2005). Placental Malaria Induces Variant-Specific Antibodies of the Cytophilic Subtypes Immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) and IgG3 That Correlate with Adhesion Inhibitory Activity. Infect. Immun. 73: 5903-5907 [Abstract] [Full Text]