Absence of antigenic diversity in Pf155, a major parasite antigen in membranes of erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium falciparum

J Clin Microbiol. 1987 Dec;25(12):2347-54. doi: 10.1128/jcm.25.12.2347-2354.1987.

Abstract

Pf155 is a merozoite-derived polypeptide antigen which the parasite Plasmodium falciparum deposits in the membranes of erythrocytes at invasion. Eleven laboratory strains or clones of P. falciparum and a large number of isolates obtained from patients from different parts of the world were studied for antigenic diversity in Pf155. Immunoglobulin G antibodies from different serum samples from P. falciparum-infected donors were affinity purified on monolayers of glutaraldehyde-fixed and air-dried erythrocytes infected with P. falciparum of different origins and tested in different combinations by immunoblotting, reinvasion inhibition, and a modified immunofluorescence procedure in which the membranes of recently infected erythrocytes were stained. Similar experiments were performed with monoclonal and oligoclonal antibodies specific for different epitopes in the C-terminal region of Pf155. No strain- or isolate-associated antigenic diversity or size variation of Pf155 was detected, indicating that the immunodominant regions of this antigen are highly conserved throughout the world.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / immunology
  • Antigenic Variation
  • Antigens, Protozoan / immunology*
  • Epitopes / immunology
  • Erythrocytes / parasitology*
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Humans
  • Immunoassay
  • Immunoglobulin G / analysis
  • Plasmodium falciparum / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • Epitopes
  • Immunoglobulin G