Immune mechanisms underlying the premunition against Plasmodium falciparum malaria

Abstract

The most unique characteristic of a parasite when it is in its normal host is the ability to make itself tolerated, which clearly indicates that it has sophisticated means to ensure the neutrality of its host. This is true also in the case of Plasmodium falciparum, since after numerous malaria attacks an equilibrium is reached with a chronic stage of infection, characterized by a relatively low parasitemia, and low or no disease (Sergent & Parrot 1935). We shall briefly review the main characteristics of this state of "premunition", and present data suggesting that the underlying mechanisms of defense rely on the cooperation between cell and antibodies, leading to an antibody dependent cellular inhibition of the intra-erythrocytic growth of the parasite.

Immune Elimination ofLeishmania majorin Mice: Implications for Immune Memory, Vaccination, and Reactivation Disease

“…It is widely believed that following healing of leishmania infections, parasites persist in tissues, resulting in a subclinical carrier state (11,13,14). However, immune individuals who live in a region endemic for malaria and then move to a nonendemic location for some time can become ill, sometimes fatally, upon returning to the endemic region (23)(24)(25). This suggests that such an exposed individual has immunity that can eliminate the parasite and that resistance then decays in the absence of reinfection (R. Sanderson, personal communication).…”

Biomarkers for susceptibility to infection and disease severity in human malaria

“…The panels illustrate the association between different candidate biomarkers and clinical outcomes. Indeed, asymptomatic malaria is associated with repeated exposure to the vector and/or the parasite and with the development of non-sterile anti-parasite immunity [named "premunition," firstly reviewed in Pérignon and Druilhe (1994)]. On the opposite pole, severe and lethal malaria is directly associated with intense oxidative stress and inflammatory imbalance that results in immunopathology.…”

Comparative Immunogenicities of Full-Length Plasmodium falciparum Merozoite Surface Protein 3 and a 24-Kilodalton N-Terminal Fragment

“…Antibody (Ab) responses to merozoite surface proteins have been shown to be associated with protective immunity against malaria (4). On the other hand, some merozoite proteins seem to mediate their protective role through complement-mediated lysis or through cooperation of Fc receptor-bearing cells (17). In a few instances, cytophilic antibodies (like IgG1 and IgG3) have been shown to facilitate the phagocytosis of merozoite through opsonization or mediate antibody-dependent cellular inhibition (ADCI) by cooperating with blood monocytes (1).…”