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- Title
Immunogenicity of a non-repetitive sequence of <em>Plasmodium falciparum</em> circumsporozoite protein in man and mice.
- Authors
Del Giudice, G.; Cheng, Q.; Mazier, D.; Berbiguier, N.; Cooper, J. A.; Engers, H. D.; Chizzolini, C.; Verdini, A. S.; Bonelli, F.; Pessi, A.; Lambert, P. H.
- Abstract
In the present work, the hypothesis that individuals naturally exposed to Plasmodium falciparum malaria infection in endemic areas produce antibodies directed against non-repetitive epitopes of the circumsporozoite protein was investigated. Using a synthetic peptide reproducing the non-repetitive group-conserved region I sequence, we have shown that specific anti-region I antibodies are detectable in sera from endemic countries. Of these sera, 87% also had antibodies against the immunodominant repetitive epitope (Asn-Ala-Asn-Pro, NANP) of P. falciparum. In order to study the immunogenicity of this non-repetitive epitope, a synthetic peptide consisting of both region I and three (NANP) repeats [RI-(NANP)3] was used to immunize inbred strains of mice. H-2b mice produced antibodies against both the repetitive and the non-repetitive epitope. These antibodies were specific for each epitope, recognized P. facliparum sporozoites in immunofluorescence, and inhibited sporozoite penetration into human liver cells in vitro. Non-H-2b mice were completely unresponsive. Lymph node cells from H-2b mice immunized with RI-(NANP)3 peptide proliferated in the presence of RI-(NA NP)3 and of (NANP)4 peptide, but never in the presence of RI peptide alone. These findings demonstrate that in the configuration used (i) the non-repetitive epitope region I does not carry T-helper epitopes; (ii) the (NA NP) repetitive epitope may act as a carrier for the immune response to region I in mice; and (iii) therefore, immune response to region I in man probably depends on the recognition of T-cell epitopes similar to those involved in the anti-NANP response: i.e. such a I epitope may be NANP itself in responding individuals or another, not yet recognized, sporozoite T-cell epitope.
- Subjects
HYPOTHESIS; PLASMODIUM falciparum; MALARIA; INFECTION; LABORATORY mice; IMMUNOGLOBULINS; BLOOD plasma; IMMUNE response
- Publication
Immunology, 1988, Vol 63, Issue 2, p187
- ISSN
0019-2805
- Publication type
Article