Serological evidence of discrete spatial clusters of Plasmodium falciparum parasites.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Malaria transmission may be considered to be homogenous with well-mixed parasite populations (as in the classic Ross/Macdonald models). Marked fine-scale heterogeneity of transmission has been observed in the field (i.e., over a few kilometres), but there are relatively few data on the degree of mixing. Since the Plasmodium falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 1 (PfEMP1) is highly polymorphic, the host's serological responses may be used to infer exposure to parasite sub-populations.

Methods and findings

We measured the antibody responses to 46 individual PfEMP1 domains at four time points among 450 children in Kenya, and identified distinct spatial clusters of antibody responses to individual domains. 35 domains showed strongly significant sero-clusters at p =

SUBMITTER: Bejon P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3126844 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature