Anti–Merozoite Surface Protein–1 19‐kDa IgG in Mother‐Infant Pairs Naturally Exposed toPlasmodium falciparum:Subclass Analysis with Age, Exposure to Asexual Parasitemia, and Protection against Malaria. V. The Asembo Bay Cohort Project

Abstract

The anti—merozoite surface protein—1 19-kDa IgG (anti-MSP1_19KD) IgG responses of 33 parasitemic infants, aged 6–14 months, were compared with those of their mothers at the time of the infant's delivery and at the time the infants were sampled; the antimalaria protection associated with these responses was also compared. IgG1 and IgG3 were the predominant subclasses. Infants 19KD antibody response develops with age, not with multiple experiences with parasitemia, and, thus, that an antimalaria vaccine strategy for pregnant mothers could delay infants' first parasitemias until they are more capable of mounting a favorable anti-MSPl_19KD response.