Host immune constraints on malaria transmission: insights from population biology of within-host parasites.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Plasmodium infections trigger complex immune reactions from their hosts against several life stages of the parasite, including gametocytes. These immune responses are highly variable, depending on age, genetics, and exposure history of the host as well as species and strain of parasite. Although the effects of host antibodies that act against gamete stages in the mosquito (due to uptake in the blood meal) are well documented, the effects of host immunity upon within-host gametocytes are not as well understood. This report consists of a theoretical population biology-based analysis to determine constraints that host immunity impose upon gametocyte population growth. The details of the mathematical models used for the analysis were guided by published reports of clinical a

SUBMITTER: McQueen PG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3691866 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature