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Transmission‐reducing immunity is inversely related to age in Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte carriers
Author(s) -
DRAKELEY C. J.,
BOUSEMA J. T.,
AKIM N. I. J.,
TEELEN K.,
ROEFFEN W.,
LENSEN A. H.,
BOLMER M.,
ELING W.,
SAUERWEIN R. W.
Publication year - 2006
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 - 10.1111/j.1365-3024.2005.00818.x
Subject(s) - gametocyte , biology , plasmodium falciparum , immunity , malaria , antibody , transmission (telecommunications) , immunology , virology , immune system , electrical engineering , engineering
SUMMARY Immunity to the sexual stages of Plasmodium falciparum is induced during natural infections and can significantly reduce the transmission of parasites to mosquitoes (transmission reducing activity; TRA) but little is known about how these responses develop with increasing age/exposure to malaria. Routinely TRA is measured in the standard membrane feeding assay (SMFA). Sera were collected from a total of 199 gametocyte carriers (median age 4 years, quartiles 2 and 9 years) near Ifakara, Tanzania; 128 samples were tested in the SMFA and generated TRA data classified as a reduction of > 50% and > 90% of transmission. TRA of > 50% was highest in young children (aged 1–2) with a significant decline with age (χ 2 trend = 5·79, P = 0·016) and in logistic regression was associated with prevalence of antibodies to both Pfs230 and Pfs48/45 ( OR 4·03, P = 0·011 and OR 2·43 P = 0·059, respectively). A TRA of > 90% reduction in transmission was not age related but was associated with antibodies to Pfs48/45 ( OR 2·36, P = 0·055). Our data confirm that antibodies are an important component of naturally induced TRA. However, whilst a similar but small proportion of individuals at all ages have TRA > 90%, the gradual deterioration of TRA > 50% with age suggests decreased antibody concentration or affinity. This may be due to decreased exposure to gametocytes, probably as a result of increased asexual and/or gametocyte specific immunity.