Age of Exposure and Immunity to Malaria in Infants

Summary

The overall objective is to evaluate the effect of exposure to Plasmodium (P.) falciparum erythrocytic stage antigens during different periods of infancy on the development of naturally acquired immunity (NAI). Hypothesis: Exposure to P. falciparum prior to 5 months of age does not result in the development of NAI, while exposure to P. falciparum after 5 months of age leads to the development of NAI. The risks of clinical malaria and anaemia during the second year of life will be compared between cohorts, as well as their correlations with the type and quality of immune responses (antibodies to several P. falciparum antigens, cytokines), oxidative stress markers and host genetic factors. These results should shed light on the determinants of the development of anti-P. falciparum responses early in life and the potential constraints to early life immunisation.

Timeline

Start

2005-09

Primary completion

2009-03

Completion

2009-03

Publications

• Dobano C, Nhabomba AJ, Manaca MN, Berthoud T, Aguilar R, Quinto L, Barbosa A, Rodriguez MH, Jimenez A, Groves PL, Santano R, Bassat Q, Aponte JJ, Guinovart C, Doolan DL, Alonso PL. A Balanced Proinflammatory and Regulatory Cytokine Signature in Young African Children Is Associated With Lower Risk of Clinical Malaria. Clin Infect Dis. 2019 Aug 16;69(5):820-828. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciy934.
• Nhabomba AJ, Guinovart C, Jimenez A, Manaca MN, Quinto L, Cistero P, Aguilar R, Barbosa A, Rodriguez MH, Bassat Q, Aponte JJ, Mayor A, Chitnis CE, Alonso PL, Dobano C. Impact of age of first exposure to Plasmodium falciparum on antibody responses to malaria in children: a randomized, controlled trial in Mozambique. Malar J. 2014 Mar 27;13:121. doi: 10.1186/1475-2875-13-121.
• Guinovart C, Dobano C, Bassat Q, Nhabomba A, Quinto L, Manaca MN, Aguilar R, Rodriguez MH, Barbosa A, Aponte JJ, Mayor AG, Renom M, Moraleda C, Roberts DJ, Schwarzer E, Le Souef PN, Schofield L, Chitnis CE, Doolan DL, Alonso PL. The role of age and exposure to Plasmodium falciparum in the rate of acquisition of naturally acquired immunity: a randomized controlled trial. PLoS One. 2012;7(3):e32362. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0032362. Epub 2012 Mar 7.

Drugs

Indications