Acquisition of Fc-afucosylation of PfEMP1-specific IgG is age-dependent and associated with clinical protection against malaria.

Protective immunity to malaria depends on acquisition of parasite-specific antibodies, with Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) being one of the most important target antigens. The effector functions of PfEMP1-specific IgG include inhibition of infected erythrocyte (IE) sequestration and opsonization of IEs for cell-mediated destruction. IgG glycosylation modulates antibody functionality, with increased affinity to FcγRIIIa for IgG lacking fucose in the Fc region (Fc-afucosylation).

Fc-Afucosylation of VAR2CSA-Specific Immunoglobulin G and Clinical Immunity to Placental Plasmodium falciparum Malaria.

Background: Acquired immunity to Plasmodium falciparum malaria is mainly mediated by immunoglobulin G (IgG) targeting erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1). These adhesins mediate infected erythrocyte (IE) sequestration, protecting IEs from splenic destruction. PfEMP1-specific IgG is therefore thought to protect mainly by inhibiting IE sequestration.

Placental malaria and circumsporozoite protein-specific immunity.

Circumsporozoite protein-specific active and passive immunization can protect significantly against Plasmodium falciparum malaria and are being considered as tools to prevent placental malaria. Despite recent encouraging findings, a closer view of the underlying biology indicates significant challenges to preventing placental malaria.

Biomarker of Anopheles exposure in Ghanaian children with haemoglobin S and C.

Heterozygous carriers of haemoglobin S and C (HbAS and HbAC) have a reduced risk of severe malaria but are not protected from Plasmodium falciparum infection, suggesting that the protection involves acquired immunity. During a blood meal, female Anopheles mosquitoes inject saliva that can elicit a host antibody response, which can serve as a proxy for exposure to Plasmodium infection. Previous studies have shown that the peptide gSG6-P1 of An.