Immune responses to Plasmodium vivax pre-erythrocytic stage antigens in naturally exposed Duffy-negative humans: a potential model for identification of liver-stage antigens

Eur J Immunol. 2005 Jun;35(6):1859-68. doi: 10.1002/eji.200425807.

Abstract

Duffy antigen is the receptor used by Plasmodium vivax to invade erythrocytes. Consequently, individuals lacking Duffy antigen [Fy(-)] do not develop blood-stage infections. We hypothesized that naturally exposed Fy(-) humans may develop immune responses mainly to pre-erythrocytic stages and could be used to study acquired immunity to P. vivax and to identify liver-stage antigens. We report here that antibody and IFN-gamma responses to known sporozoite antigens were significantly induced by natural exposure in Fy(-) humans, whereas responses to blood-stage antigens were significantly induced in Fy(+) humans. IFN-gamma responses to sporozoite antigens were lower in Fy(+) than in Fy(-) humans, indicating that in Fy(+) humans blood-stage infections may have suppressed T cell responses to pre-erythrocytic stages. We evaluated the immune responses to 18 novel P. vivax homologs of P. falciparum sporozoite proteins identified from the P. vivax genome sequence. Eight proteins recalled IFN-gamma responses in P. vivax-exposed but not in unexposed individuals. Of these, 3 antigens elicited IFN-gamma responses in Fy(-) but not in Fy(+) individuals. These results suggest that differential immune responses observed in naturally exposed Fy(-) and Fy(+) individuals can be exploited to identify P. vivax stage-specific antigens.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Protozoan / immunology*
  • Cross Reactions
  • Duffy Blood-Group System / analysis*
  • Erythrocytes / parasitology*
  • Female
  • Genome, Protozoan
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
  • Liver / parasitology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Plasmodium vivax / genetics
  • Plasmodium vivax / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • Duffy Blood-Group System
  • Interferon-gamma