Expression of variant surface antigens by Plasmodium falciparum parasites in the peripheral blood of clinically immune pregnant women indicates ongoing placental infection

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

  • Michael F Ofori
  • Trine Staalsoe
  • Victoria Bam
  • Maja Lundquist
  • Kim P David
  • Edmund N L Browne
  • Bartholomew D Akanmori
  • Hviid, Lars
Placenta-sequestered Plasmodium falciparum parasites that cause pregnancy-associated malaria (PAM) in otherwise clinically immune women express distinct variant surface antigens (VSA(PAM)) not expressed by parasites in nonpregnant individuals. We report here that parasites from the peripheral blood of clinically immune pregnant women also express VSA(PAM), making them a convenient source of VSA(PAM) expressors for PAM vaccine research.
Original languageEnglish
JournalInfection and Immunity
Volume71
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)1584-6
Number of pages2
ISSN0019-9567
Publication statusPublished - 2003

Bibliographical note

Keywords: Animals; Antibodies, Protozoan; Antigens, Protozoan; Antigens, Surface; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Malaria, Falciparum; Placenta; Plasmodium falciparum; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic

ID: 6747081