High Antibodies to VAR2CSA in Response to Malaria Infection Are Associated With Improved Birthweight in a Longitudinal Study of Pregnant Women

ARD McLean; DH Opi; DI Stanisic; JC Cutts; G Feng; A Ura; I Mueller; SJ Rogerson; JG Beeson; FJI Fowkes

Journal article

High Antibodies to VAR2CSA in Response to Malaria Infection Are Associated With Improved Birthweight in a Longitudinal Study of Pregnant Women

ARD McLean, DH Opi, DI Stanisic, JC Cutts, G Feng, A Ura, I Mueller, SJ Rogerson, JG Beeson, FJI Fowkes

Frontiers in Immunology | FRONTIERS MEDIA SA | Published : 2021

DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.644563

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Abstract

Introduction: Pregnant women have an increased risk of P. falciparum infection, which is associated with low birth weight and preterm delivery. VAR2CSA, a variant surface antigen expressed on the parasitized erythrocyte surface, enables sequestration in the placenta. Few studies have prospectively examined relationships between antibody responses during pregnancy and subsequent adverse birth outcomes, and there are limited data outside Africa. Methods: Levels of IgG against VAR2CSA domains (DBL3; DBL5) and a VAR2CSA-expressing placental-binding P. falciparum isolate (PfCS2-IE) were measured in 301 women enrolled at their first visit to antenatal care which occurred mid-pregnancy (median = 26..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Alistair McLean Author

Ivo Mueller Author

Stephen Rogerson Author

James Beeson Author

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Grants

Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council

Funding Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC: Research Fellowship 1166753 to FF, Project grant 575534, Program Grant 1092789 to JB. and SR, and Investigator Grant 1173046 to JB). Burnet Institute is supported by NHMRC Independent Research Institutes Infrastructure Support Scheme and the Victorian State Government Operational Infrastructure Support. JB, SR, IM, FF, HO, and JC are members of the NHMRC-funded Australian Centre for Research Excellence in Malaria Elimination.