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Malaria Journal
Published in: Malaria Journal 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research

Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 2: epitope mapping and fine specificity of human antibody response against non-polymorphic domains

Authors: Saidou Balam, Sope Olugbile, Catherine Servis, Mahamadou Diakité, Alba D’Alessandro, Geraldine Frank, Remy Moret, Issa Nebie, Marcel Tanner, Ingrid Felger, Thomas Smith, Andrey V Kajava, François Spertini, Giampietro Corradin

Published in: Malaria Journal | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

Background

Two long synthetic peptides representing the dimorphic and constant C-terminal domains of the two allelic families of Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface proteins 2 are considered promising malaria vaccine candidates. The aim of the current study is to characterize the immune response (epitope mapping) in naturally exposed individuals and relate immune responses to the risk of clinical malaria.

Methods

To optimize their construction, the fine specificity of human serum antibodies from donors of different age, sex and living in four distinct endemic regions was determined in ELISA by using overlapping 20 mer peptides covering the two domains. Immune purified antibodies were used in Western blot and immunofluorescence assay to recognize native parasite derivate proteins.

Results

Immunodominant epitopes were characterized, and their distribution was similar irrespective of geographic origin, age group and gender. Acquisition of a 3D7 family and constant region-specific immune response and antibody avidity maturation occur early in life while a longer period is needed for the corresponding FC27 family response. In addition, the antibody response to individual epitopes within the 3D7 family-specific region contributes to protection from malaria infection with different statistical weight. It is also illustrated that affinity-purified antibodies against the dimorphic or constant regions recognized homologous and heterologous parasites in immunofluorescence and homologous and heterologous MSP2 and other polypeptides in Western blot.

Conclusion

Data from this current study may contribute to a development of MSP2 vaccine candidates based on conserved and dimorphic regions thus bypassing the complexity of vaccine development related to the polymorphism of full-length MSP2.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 2: epitope mapping and fine specificity of human antibody response against non-polymorphic domains
Authors
Saidou Balam
Sope Olugbile
Catherine Servis
Mahamadou Diakité
Alba D’Alessandro
Geraldine Frank
Remy Moret
Issa Nebie
Marcel Tanner
Ingrid Felger
Thomas Smith
Andrey V Kajava
François Spertini
Giampietro Corradin
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Malaria Journal / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1475-2875
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-13-510

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