Plasmodium vivax apical membrane antigen-1: comparative recognition of different domains by antibodies induced during natural human infection

Microbes Infect. 2008 Oct;10(12-13):1266-73. doi: 10.1016/j.micinf.2008.07.023. Epub 2008 Jul 22.

Abstract

The Apical Membrane Antigen-1 (AMA-1) of Plasmodium sp. has been suggested as a vaccine candidate against malaria. This protein seems to be involved in merozoite invasion and its extra-cellular portion contains three distinct domains: DI, DII, and DIII. Previously, we described that Plasmodium vivax AMA-1 (PvAMA-1) ectodomain is highly immunogenic in natural human infections. Here, we expressed each domain, separately or in combination (DI-II or DII-III), as bacterial recombinant proteins to map immunodominant epitopes within the PvAMA-1 ectodomain. IgG recognition was assessed by ELISA using sera of P. vivax-infected individuals collected from endemic regions of Brazil or antibodies raised in immunized mice. The frequencies of responders to recombinant proteins containing the DII were higher than the others and similar to the ones observed against the PvAMA-1 ectodomain. Moreover, ELISA inhibition assays using the PvAMA-1 ectodomain as substrate revealed the presence of many common epitopes within DI-II that are recognized by human immune antibodies. Finally, immunization of mice with the PvAMA-1 ectodomain induced high levels of antibodies predominantly to DI-II. Together, our results indicate that DII is particularly immunogenic during natural human infections, thus indicating that this region could be used as part of an experimental sub-unit vaccine to prevent vivax malaria.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / immunology
  • Antigens, Protozoan / chemistry*
  • Antigens, Protozoan / genetics
  • Antigens, Protozoan / immunology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immune Sera / immunology*
  • Immunization
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Malaria, Vivax / immunology*
  • Malaria, Vivax / parasitology
  • Malaria, Vivax / prevention & control
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Plasmodium vivax / immunology*
  • Protozoan Proteins / chemistry*
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics
  • Protozoan Proteins / immunology*
  • Protozoan Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Protozoan Vaccines / immunology
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • Immune Sera
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Protozoan Vaccines
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • apical membrane antigen I, Plasmodium