Abstract
The apical membrane antigen (AMA-1) family of malaria merozoite proteins is characterised by a high degree of inter-species conservation. Evidence that the protein (PK66/AMA-1) from the simian parasite Plasmodium knowlesi was protective in rhesus monkeys suggested that the 83kDa P. falciparum equivalent (PF83/AMA-1) should be investigated for protective effects in humans. Here we briefly review pertinent comparative data, and describe the use of an eukaryotic full length recombinant PF83/AMA-1 molecule to develop a sensitive ELISA for the determination of serological responses in endemic populations. The assay has revealed surprisingly high levels of humoral response to this quantitatively minor antigen. We also show that PK66/AMA-1 inhibitory mAb's are active against merozoites subsequent to release from schizont-infected red cells, further implicating AMA-1 molecules in red cell invasion.
Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium knowlesii; AMA-1; PK66; PF83; merozoite; seroepidemiology
Aspects of immunity for the AMA-1 family of molecules in humans and non-human primates malarias
A. W. Thomas1
D. Narum1
A. P. Waters2
J. F. Trape3
C. Rogier4
A. Gonçalves5
V. Rosario6
P. Druilhe7
G. H. Mitchell8
D. Dennis8
TNO, BPRC, Laboratory for Parasitology, Rijswijk, The Netherlands
University of Leiden, Department Parasitology, Leiden, The Netherlands
Laboratoire de Paludologie, Dakar, Senegal
Service d'Epidemiologie, Dakar, Senegal
UNL, CMDT, IHMT. Dept. S. Publica, Lisboa, Portugal
UNL, Centro de Malária e Outras Doenças Tropicais, Lisboa, Portugal
Institute Pasteur, Paris, France
Guy's Hospital, The Medical School, London, England
The apical membrane antigen (AMA-1) family of malaria merozoite proteins is characterised by a high degree of inter-species conservation. Evidence that the protein (PK66/AMA-1) from the simian parasite Plasmodium knowlesi was protective in rhesus monkeys suggested that the 83kDa P. falciparum equivalent (PF83/AMA-1) should be investigated for protective effects in humans. Here we briefly review pertinent comparative data, and describe the use of an eukaryotic full length recombinant PF83/AMA-1 molecule to develop a sensitive ELISA for the determination of serological responses in endemic populations. The assay has revealed surprisingly high levels of humoral response to this quantitatively minor antigen. We also show that PK66/AMA-1 inhibitory mAb's are active against merozoites subsequent to release from schizont-infected red cells, further implicating AMA-1 molecules in red cell invasion.
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Publication Dates
-
Publication in this collection
15 June 2009 -
Date of issue
1994
