Antibodies to Cryptic Epitopes in Distant Homologues Underpin a Mechanism of Heterologous Immunity between PvDBP and VAR2CSA.

Many pathogens evolve extensive genetic variation in virulence proteins as a strategy to evade host immunity. This poses a significant challenge for the host to develop broadly neutralizing antibodies. In , we show that a mechanism to circumvent this challenge is to elicit antibodies to cryptic epitopes that are not under immune pressure.

Cross-Species Immune Recognition Between Plasmodium vivax Duffy Binding Protein Antibodies and the Plasmodium falciparum Surface Antigen VAR2CSA.

Background: In pregnancy, Plasmodium falciparum parasites express the surface antigen VAR2CSA, which mediates adherence of red blood cells to chondroitin sulfate A (CSA) in the placenta. VAR2CSA antibodies are generally acquired during infection in pregnancy and are associated with protection from placental malaria. We observed previously that men and children in Colombia also had antibodies to VAR2CSA, but the origin of these antibodies was unknown.