CHARACTERIZATION OF THE HUMORAL IMMUNE-RESPONSE IN PLASMODIUM-FALCIPARUM MALARIA .1. ESTIMATION OF ANTIBODIES TO P-FALCIPARUM OR HUMAN-ERYTHROCYTES BY MEANS OF MICROELISA

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  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 54  (1) , 127-134
Abstract
An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to estimate disease related antibodies in sera from malaria patients or individuals living in malaria endemic areas. As antigen, Percoll enriched fractions (mainly late trophozoites, schizonts) from P. falciparum in vitro cultures were used. An ELISA with ghosts from normal human red blood cells (RBC) was performed in parallel. Sera (175) were tested for their reactivity with either one of the 2 antigens. Seven sera from patients with acute P. falciparum infection were negative. Most of these were taken very early in infection and consecutive samples taken later usually were positive. The antibodies reactng with the P. falciparum antigen had a high parasite specificity as indicated by inhibition and absorption experiments. Many sera also had elevated levels of antibodies specific for RBC antigens. A correlation, most pronounced in the IgM system, was also seen between the anti-RBC and the anti-P. falciparum antibody levels.