Exploring the <i>P. falciparum</i> antigens associated with reduced risk of malaria in pregnancy.

ABSTRACT: Plasmodium falciparum infection in pregnancy leads to substantial maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. Such an infection may result in placental malaria (PM) due to P. falciparum-infected red blood cells adhering to the placenta via parasite-derived ligands. Despite the risk of infection being the same for women of all gravidities, the risk of poor birth outcomes is highest in primigravida women as they lack protective antibodies against placental malaria-associated parasites. Thus, understanding how specific P. falciparum antigens interact with the host's immune system during the first and subsequent pregnancies may provide insights into the immunopathology of malaria and guide vaccine target prioritization. In this study, we assessed human antibody responses

SUBMITTER: Mwai L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12301398 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature