Recombinant Duffy binding-like-alpha domains of Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 elicit antibodies in rats that recognise conserved epitopes

Parasitol Res. 2003 Aug;90(6):467-72. doi: 10.1007/s00436-003-0884-8. Epub 2003 Jun 12.

Abstract

Plasmodium falciparum parasites remodel the surface of human erythrocytes on invasion by the insertion of parasite-derived proteins in knob-like protrusions. P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP-1), a variant surface antigen, has been shown to be anchored in these knobs and mediates adhesion to various host endothelial receptors. These proteins also undergo clonal antigenic variation as a means of immune evasion. Duffy binding-like-alpha(DBL-alpha) domain together with the cysteine-rich interdomain region form the head structure of the PfEMP1 molecule. In this report, we used ten different recombinant DBL-alpha fusion proteins expressed in Escherichia coli to generate antibodies in experimental animals. Five out of ten recombinant DBL-alpha fusion proteins were immunogenic and induced antibodies that reacted with conserved peptides derived from PfEMP1. Indirect immunofluorescence assay was used to localise PfEMP-1-DBL-alpha expressed in parasitised erythrocytes. Positive fluorescence reactivity was observed within the cytoplasm and with membrane structures but not on the surface of intact P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / immunology*
  • Antigens, Protozoan / immunology*
  • Duffy Blood-Group System / immunology*
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Erythrocyte Membrane / immunology*
  • Erythrocyte Membrane / parasitology
  • Host-Parasite Interactions
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Plasmodium falciparum / immunology*
  • Protozoan Proteins / immunology*
  • Rats
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / immunology
  • Sequence Alignment

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • Duffy Blood-Group System
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • erythrocyte membrane protein 1, Plasmodium falciparum