A novel merozoite surface antigen of Plasmodium falciparum (MSP-3) identified by cellular-antibody cooperative mechanism antigenicity and biological activity of antibodies

• Published in: Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz Vol. 89 Suppl 2; no. suppl 2; pp. 77 - 80
• Main Authors: Oeuvray, C, Bouharoun-Tayoun, H, Grass-Masse, H, Lepers, J P, Ralamboranto, L, Tartar, A, Druilhe, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde 1994; Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ)
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Antigens, Protozoan; Antigens, Surface - immunology; Base Sequence; Biomarkers - chemistry; Immunoglobulin M - immunology; malaria; merozoite; Mice; Molecular Sequence Data; MSP-3; PARASITOLOGY; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium falciparum - immunology; Protozoan Proteins - isolation & purification; TROPICAL MEDICINE; Vaccines, Synthetic - immunology; Plasmodium falciparum; MSP-3; malaria; merozoite
• ISSN: 0074-0276; 1678-8060; 0074-0276; 1678-8060
• DOI: 10.1590/S0074-02761994000600018

We report the identification of a 48kDa antigen targeted by antibodies which inhibit Plasmodium falciparum in vitro growth by cooperation with blood monocytes in an ADCI assay correlated to the naturally acquired protection. This protein is located on the surface of the merozoite stage of P. falciparum, and is detectable in all isolates tested. Epidemiological studies demonstrated that peptides derived from the amino acid sequence of MSP-3 contain potent B and T-cell epitopes recognized by a majority of individuals living in endemic areas. Moreover human antibodies either purified on the recombinant protein, or on the synthetic peptide MSP-3b, as well as antibodies raised in mice, were all found to promote parasite killing mediated by monocytes.