Miniaturization of a high-throughput pLDH-based Plasmodium falciparum growth inhibition assay for small volume samples from preclinical and clinical vaccine trials

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2008 Mar;78(3):468-71.

Abstract

To date, no immune correlates for blood stage-specific immunity against Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites have been identified. Growth and/or invasion inhibition assays using sera from Phase 2a/b trials will aid in determining whether correlations with protective immunity can be established for these assays. A major constraint in the ability to evaluate functional antibody activities from populations in endemic areas is the relatively limited availability of sufficient sample quantity. For this reason, we developed a miniaturized and high-throughput method to measure growth inhibitory activity by quantification of parasite lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) in a 384-microtiter plate format. This culture method can be extended beyond the pLDH-based readout to other techniques commonly used to determine growth/invasion inhibition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Culture Techniques
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / methods*
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / analysis
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / metabolism*
  • Malaria Vaccines / immunology*
  • Malaria, Falciparum / blood
  • Malaria, Falciparum / parasitology
  • Miniaturization / instrumentation*
  • Miniaturization / methods
  • Plasmodium falciparum / drug effects*
  • Plasmodium falciparum / enzymology
  • Plasmodium falciparum / growth & development*
  • Plasmodium falciparum / immunology
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Malaria Vaccines
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase