Antibody responses to Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein-1 and efficacy of amodiaquine in Gabonese children with P. falciparum malaria

J Infect Dis. 2003 Apr 1;187(7):1137-41. doi: 10.1086/368414. Epub 2003 Mar 13.

Abstract

The relationship between the efficacy of amodiaquine for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria and preexisting antibodies against merozoite surface protein (MSP)-1, a blood-stage P. falciparum antigen, was investigated. The immunoglobulin G antibody response to different MSP-1 recombinant proteins was evaluated in plasma samples from Gabonese children with uncomplicated malaria who were treated with amodiaquine. The prevalence of anti-MSP-1 antibodies was similar among patients with either parasitological and clinical cure after treatment (n=102) or treatment failure (n=51) by day 28 (83% in both groups). However, associations between antibody responses to K1 and MAD20 allelic families and therapeutic success were found (P< .001 and P= .034, respectively). A high proportion of plasma samples recognizing several antigens was found in the cured group. This association was significant even when data were stratified by age, particularly for the K1 family antigens (P= .029). These results suggest that humoral immune responses play a supportive role in the efficacy of amodiaquine treatment.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amodiaquine / therapeutic use*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / analysis*
  • Antimalarials / therapeutic use*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Gabon
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Malaria, Falciparum / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Merozoite Surface Protein 1 / immunology*
  • Plasmodium falciparum / immunology*
  • Plasmodium falciparum / physiology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Antimalarials
  • Merozoite Surface Protein 1
  • Amodiaquine