High efficacy of anti DBL4ɛ-VAR2CSA antibodies in inhibition of CSA-binding Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes from pregnant women

• Published in: Vaccine Vol. 29; no. 3; pp. 437 - 443
• Main Authors: Magistrado, Pamela A., Minja, Daniel, Doritchamou, Justin, Tuikue Ndam, Nicaise, John, Davis, Schmiegelow, Christentze, Massougbodji, Achille, Dahlbäck, Madeleine, Ditlev, Sisse B., Pinto, Vera V., Resende, Mafalda, Lusingu, John, Theander, Thor G., Salanti, Ali, Nielsen, Morten A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2011
• Subjects: adhesion; Africans; antibodies; Antibodies, Protozoan - immunology; Antigens, Protozoan - immunology; Benin; Cell Adhesion; chondroitin sulfate; death; DNA Repair Enzymes - metabolism; erythrocytes; Erythrocytes - parasitology; Female; growth retardation; Humans; immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin G - immunology; malaria; Malaria Vaccines - immunology; Malaria, Falciparum - immunology; Placental malaria; Plasmodium; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium falciparum - immunology; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - immunology; pregnant women; recombinant proteins; Recombinant Proteins - immunology; Tanzania; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Vaccine; vaccines; VAR2CSA; Benin; Tanzania; PBS; IPTp; Vaccine; GAG; PBMC; Placental malaria; DBL; CSA; MFI; Plasmodium falciparum; CPDA; CSPG; VAR2CSA; IE; PM; PfEMP1
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.10.080

Malaria during pregnancy is a major cause of intra-uterine growth-retardation and infant death in sub-Saharan Africa. Ideally, this could be prevented by a vaccine delivered before the first pregnancy. Antibodies against domain DBL4ɛ from VAR2CSA has been shown to inhibit adhesion of laboratory isolates to the placental receptor chondroitin sulfate A. In this study, the binding inhibitory efficacy of IgG elicited by two different DBL4ɛ recombinant proteins was tested on a panel of fresh clinical isolates from pregnant women living in Benin and Tanzania. The most promising recombinant protein elicited antibodies with similar efficacy as pooled plasma from immune multi-gravid African women.