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Recognition of synthetic polypeptides corresponding to the N ‐ and C ‐terminal fragments of Plasmodium falciparum Exp‐1 by T‐cells and plasma from human donors from African endemic areas
Author(s) -
Meraldi Valentin,
Nebié Issa,
Moret Rémy,
CuzinOuattara Nadine,
Thiocone Ali,
Doumbo Ogobara,
Esposito Fulvio,
Traoré Alfred S.,
Corradin Giampietro,
Terenzi Silvia
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
parasite immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1365-3024
pISSN - 0141-9838
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3024.2002.00447.x
Subject(s) - plasmodium falciparum , biology , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , peptide , transmembrane protein , immunology , immune system , parasite hosting , antibody , transmembrane domain , peptide sequence , microbiology and biotechnology , t cell , virology , malaria , biochemistry , in vitro , gene , receptor , world wide web , computer science
Summary The present work describes the recognition of three synthetic polypeptides encompassing the N‐ and C‐ terminal regions of the transmembrane Exp‐1 protein of the parasite Plasmodium falciparum by plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from naturally exposed individuals living in African endemic areas. The three polypeptides comprise the sequences 23–105, 73–162 and 101–162, and overlap at the transmembrane domain (73–105). Thus, they permitted characterization of the immune response specific to the N‐ and C‐ terminal domains in an independent fashion. Two different populations were evaluated, one in the village of Safo in Mali and the other in the villages of Somnaway, Kabortenga and Toussouktenga in Burkina Faso. Antibodies to the sequence 73–162 of Pf Exp‐1 were found in 70% of adult Mali donors and in all of the donors tested from Burkina Faso. Strikingly, the N‐ terminal fragment Pf Exp‐1 23–105 was only weakly recognized by a few donors. Evaluation of the T‐cell response indicated that the peptide Pf Exp‐1 23–105 was more potent than Pf Exp‐1 73–162 in inducing a proliferative response. A correlation between peptide‐specific interferon‐γ and interleukin‐6 production and proliferation to peptide Pf Exp‐1 23–105 was observed. Further studies are needed to evaluate this molecule as a vaccine candidate.