Journal article
The Plasmodium falciparum Erythrocyte Invasion Ligand Pfrh4 as a Target of Functional and Protective Human Antibodies against Malaria
L Reiling, JS Richards, FJI Fowkes, DW Wilson, W Chokejindachai, AE Barry, WH Tham, J Stubbs, C Langer, J Donelson, P Michon, L Tavul, BS Crabb, PM Siba, AF Cowman, I Mueller, JG Beeson
Plos One | PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE | Published : 2012
Abstract
Background: Acquired antibodies are important in human immunity to malaria, but key targets remain largely unknown. Plasmodium falciparum reticulocyte-binding-homologue-4 (PfRh4) is important for invasion of human erythrocytes and may therefore be a target of protective immunity. Methods: IgG and IgG subclass-specific responses against different regions of PfRh4 were determined in a longitudinal cohort of 206 children in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Human PfRh4 antibodies were tested for functional invasion-inhibitory activity, and expression of PfRh4 by P. falciparum isolates and sequence polymorphisms were determined. Results: Antibodies to PfRh4 were acquired by children exposed to P. falcipar..
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Funding Acknowledgements
Funding was provided by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (project grant and career development award to J. Beeson; program grant to J. Beeson, B. Crabb, A. Cowman; training award to F. Fowkes, postgraduate research fellowship to J. Richards, D. Wilson; project grant to A. Barry; Infrastructure for Research Institutes Support Scheme Grant); Australia-India Strategic Research Fund of the Department of Innovation Industry Science and Research, Australia; Australian Research Council (Future Fellowship to J. Beeson); Victorian State Government Operational Infrastructure Support grant; and International Nutrition Foundation/Ellison Medical Foundation Fellowship Program (W. Chokejindachai), Research Grant from Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University (W. Chokejindachai) and the Office of the Higher Education Commission and Mahidol University under the National Research Universities Initiative (W. Chokejindachai). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.