Antibody-Dependent Respiratory Burst against <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> Merozoites in Individuals Living in an Area with Declining Malaria Transmission
Doreen D. Mutemi,
James Tuju,
Rodney Ogwang,
Lydia Nyamako,
Kennedy M. Wambui,
Ivette R. Cruz,
Pär Villner,
Victor Yman,
Samson M. Kinyanjui,
Ingegerd Rooth,
Billy Ngasala,
Anna Färnert,
Faith H. A. Osier
Affiliations
Doreen D. Mutemi
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
James Tuju
Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute–Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi 80108, Kenya
Rodney Ogwang
Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute–Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi 80108, Kenya
Lydia Nyamako
Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute–Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi 80108, Kenya
Kennedy M. Wambui
Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute–Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi 80108, Kenya
Ivette R. Cruz
Division of Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
Pär Villner
Division of Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
Victor Yman
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
Samson M. Kinyanjui
Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute–Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi 80108, Kenya
Ingegerd Rooth
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
Billy Ngasala
Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam 11102, Tanzania
Anna Färnert
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
Faith H. A. Osier
Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute–Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi 80108, Kenya
Malaria transmission intensity affects the development of naturally acquired immunity to malaria. An absolute correlate measure of protection against malaria is lacking. However, antibody-mediated functions against Plasmodium falciparum correlate with protection against malaria. In children, antibody-mediated functions against P. falciparum decline with reduced exposure. It is unclear whether adults maintain antibody-mediated functions as malaria transmission declines. This study assessed antibody-dependent respiratory burst (ADRB) in individuals from an area with declining malaria transmission. In an age-matched analysis, we compare ADRB activity during high versus low malaria transmission periods. Age significantly predicted higher ADRB activity in the high (p p P. falciparum infection influenced ADRB activity during the low (p = 0.01) but not the high (p = 0.29) malaria transmission period. These findings propose that naturally acquired immunity to P. falciparum is affected in children and adults as malaria transmission declines, implying that vaccines will be necessary to induce and maintain protection against malaria.
