Recognition of synthetic polypeptides corresponding to the N- and C-terminal fragments of Plasmodium falciparum Exp-1 by T-cells and plasma from human donors from African endemic areas.

The present work describes the recognition of three synthetic polypeptides encompassing the N- and C-terminal regions of the transmembrane Exp-1 protein of the parasite Plasmodium falciparum by plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from naturally exposed individuals living in African endemic areas. The three polypeptides comprise the sequences 23-105, 73-162 and 101-162, and overlap at the transmembrane domain (73-105). Thus, they permitted characterization of the immune response specific to the N- and C-terminal domains in an independent fashion.