A role for fetal hemoglobin and maternal immune IgG in infant resistance to Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In Africa, infant susceptibility to Plasmodium falciparum malaria increases substantially as fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and maternal immune IgG disappear from circulation. During the first few months of life, however, resistance to malaria is evidenced by extremely low parasitemias, the absence of fever, and the almost complete lack of severe disease. This resistance has previously been attributed in part to poor parasite growth in HbF-containing red blood cells (RBCs). A specific role for maternal immune IgG in infant resistance to malaria has been hypothesized but not yet identified.

Methods and findings

We found that P. falciparum parasites invade and develop normally in fetal (cord blood, CB) RBCs, which contain up to 95% HbF. However, these parasitized CB RBCs ar

SUBMITTER: Amaratunga C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3075246 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature