Conserved Group-Specific Epitopes of the Circumsporozoite Proteins Revealed by Antibodies to Synthetic Peptides

Vergara, U., ... Ferreira, A., ... Nussenzweig V.

Abstract

The immunogenic properties of sporozoites are associated mainly with the circumsporozoite (CS) protein that covers the surface of mature sporozoites. This stage-specific protein has an immunodominant region with repetitive epitopes. Rabbits that are repeatedly immunized with sporozoites of Plasmodium knowlesi, a monkey malaria parasite, also recognize two synthetic peptides (N2 and C2) representing other polar domains of the CS protein. We show in this report that antibodies to the N2 and C2 synthetic peptides react not only with P. knowlesi but also with conserved regions of the surface membrane of other human, monkey, and rodent (but not avian) malaria sporozoites. Moreover, antibodies to N2 partially neutralize the infectivity of sporozoites of P. berghei, a rodent malaria parasite. In contrast, antibodies to synthetic peptides representing the repetitive epitope of P. knowlesi were strictly species specific.

Más información

Título de la Revista: JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
Volumen: 134
Editorial: AMER ASSOC IMMUNOLOGISTS
Fecha de publicación: 1985
Página de inicio: 3445
Página final: 3448
DOI:

WOS:A1985AFX6000099

Notas: ISI