Evasion of immunity to Plasmodium falciparum malaria by IgM masking of protective IgG epitopes in infected erythrocyte surface-exposed PfEMP1

Lea Barfod, Michael B. Dalgaard, Suzan T. Pleman, Michael F. Ofori, Richard J. Pleass, Lars Hviid.

 

Paper presents evidence that "suggests that nonspecific binding of IgM to VAR2CSA has evolved to shield epitopes that are immunogenic but not critical to molecular function (adhesion to CSA) from recognition by specific IgG, whereas functionally important epitopes are kept clear of this masking.  If so, epitopes in VAR2CSA that are both targeted by adhesion-inhibitory IgG and accessible to such IgG despite nonspecific IgM binding (such as the epitope recognized by PAM1.4) would seem to be of particular interest in the quest to develop VAR2CSA-based vaccines against placental malaria."

 

Studies to investigate infected erythrocyte (IE) adhesion to CSA were executed using Cellix's Mirus Nanopump and Vena8 Fluoro+ biochips.

 

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