EFFECT ON ROSETTE FORMATION OF ANTIBODIES TO DUFFY BINDING-LIKE 1 ALPHA DOMAIN OF PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM ERYTHROCYTE MEMBRANE PROTEIN 1

• Published in: Southeast Asian journal of tropical medicine and public health Vol. 47; no. 4; p. 581
• Main Authors: Saiwaew, Somporn, Moll, Kirsten, Leitgeb, Anna M, Piaraksa, Nattaporn, Sila, Patima, Patthanacharoern, Napaporn, Phetsouvanh, Rattanaphone, Charunwatthana, Prakaykaew, Uthaisin, Chirapong, Dondorp, Arjen M, Wahlgren, Mats, Chotivanich, Kesinee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bangkok Central Coordinating Board, SEAMEO-TROPMED Project 01-07-2016
• Subjects: Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Plasmodium falciparum
• ISSN: 0125-1562

The highly conserved Duffy binding-like domain 1 alpha (DBL1 alpha ) of Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein-1 (PfEMP1) is central to cytoadherence properties of infected erythrocytes. Antibodies against DBL1 alpha in plasma from African children in high malaria transmission settings disrupt rosettes (clumping of infected to uninfected erythrocytes) and may possibly protect against severe malaria. This phenomenon has not been established in low transmission settings in Asia. Using ELISA reactivity towards a recombinant DBL1 alpha was examined in 53 plasma samples from patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Thailand compared to 13 negative plasma controls and related to disruption of rosette formation. Plasma reactivity to DBL1 alpha was stronger in patient samples compared to non-immune controls (p < 0.0001). Overall, antibody concentrations against DBL1 did not correlate with rosette disruption of P. falciparum strain FCR3S1.2 ( r = -0.06; p = 0.72), but plasma containing antibodies to DBL1 alpha did disrupt rosette formation by > 15% in 52% and 50% in 10% of samples. There was no correlation between presence of antibodies and patients age. In conclusion, patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria produce antibodies against DBL1 alpha domain of PfEMP1, resulting in partial disruption of rosette formation, similar to the results obtained in African children. This might have a protective effect on disease severity.