Principal component analysis of the Serological response to Plasmodium Falciparum using a Multiplex bead-based assay in Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract Characterization of serological responses to Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) is of interest to understand disease burden and transmission dynamics; however, their interpretation is challenging. Dried blood spots from 30,815 participants aged 6 months to 15 years from the 2018 Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey were analyzed by multiplex bead-based assay to measure immunoglobulin G (IgG) to Pf-stage-specific MSP-1, AMA-1, GLURPR0, LSA-1, and CSP. These IgG levels were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA). PC1 and PC2 scores explained 41% and 17% of the total variance, respectively. PC1 unit vectors represented seropositivity. PC2 unit vectors for blood-stage antigens were in opposite directions to liver-stage and sporozoite antigens. PC2 scores were correlated with MSP-1 positively (R = 0.52, P < 0.001) and CSP negatively (R=-0.65, P < 0.001) and may help identify areas with prior exposure but higher risk for increased infections or epidemics. PCA of Pf serology can provide summary scores to possibly inform future programmatic interventions.

Keywords

• Plasmodium Falciparum
• Nigeria
• Serology
• Multiplex bead-based assay (MBA)
• Principal component analysis (PCA)