Serological evidence of discrete spatial clusters of Plasmodium falciparum parasites.
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...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science
2011
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| _version_ | 1826266941938991104 |
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| author | Bejon, P Turner, L Lavstsen, T Cham, G Olotu, A Drakeley, C Lievens, M Vekemans, J Savarese, B Lusingu, J von Seidlein, L Bull, P Marsh, K Theander, T |
| author_facet | Bejon, P Turner, L Lavstsen, T Cham, G Olotu, A Drakeley, C Lievens, M Vekemans, J Savarese, B Lusingu, J von Seidlein, L Bull, P Marsh, K Theander, T |
| author_sort | Bejon, P |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | 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 = 0.001. Individuals within the high transmission hotspot showed the greatest diversity of anti-PfEMP1 responses. Individuals outside the hotspot had a less diverse range of responses, even if as individuals they were at relatively intense exposure. CONCLUSIONS: We infer that antigenically distinct sub-populations of parasites exist on a fine spatial scale in a study area of rural Kenya. Further studies should examine antigenic variation over longer periods of time and in different study areas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-06T20:46:36Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:361ea51f-a8bd-480e-8ce0-7012a8476ad4 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-06T20:46:36Z |
| publishDate | 2011 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:361ea51f-a8bd-480e-8ce0-7012a8476ad42022-03-26T13:35:56ZSerological evidence of discrete spatial clusters of Plasmodium falciparum parasites.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:361ea51f-a8bd-480e-8ce0-7012a8476ad4EnglishSymplectic Elements at OxfordPublic Library of Science2011Bejon, PTurner, LLavstsen, TCham, GOlotu, ADrakeley, CLievens, MVekemans, JSavarese, BLusingu, Jvon Seidlein, LBull, PMarsh, KTheander, T 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 = 0.001. Individuals within the high transmission hotspot showed the greatest diversity of anti-PfEMP1 responses. Individuals outside the hotspot had a less diverse range of responses, even if as individuals they were at relatively intense exposure. CONCLUSIONS: We infer that antigenically distinct sub-populations of parasites exist on a fine spatial scale in a study area of rural Kenya. Further studies should examine antigenic variation over longer periods of time and in different study areas. |
| spellingShingle | Bejon, P Turner, L Lavstsen, T Cham, G Olotu, A Drakeley, C Lievens, M Vekemans, J Savarese, B Lusingu, J von Seidlein, L Bull, P Marsh, K Theander, T Serological evidence of discrete spatial clusters of Plasmodium falciparum parasites. |
| title | Serological evidence of discrete spatial clusters of Plasmodium falciparum parasites. |
| title_full | Serological evidence of discrete spatial clusters of Plasmodium falciparum parasites. |
| title_fullStr | Serological evidence of discrete spatial clusters of Plasmodium falciparum parasites. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Serological evidence of discrete spatial clusters of Plasmodium falciparum parasites. |
| title_short | Serological evidence of discrete spatial clusters of Plasmodium falciparum parasites. |
| title_sort | serological evidence of discrete spatial clusters of plasmodium falciparum parasites |
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