# name
Host age and expression of genes involved in red blood cell
                invasion in Plasmodium falciparum field isolates

# metadata.dc.description.abstract[].value
Plasmodium falciparum proteins involved in erythrocyte invasion
                are main targets of acquired immunity and important vaccine
                candidates. We hypothesized that anti-parasite immunity acquired
                upon exposure would limit invasion-related gene (IRG) expression
                and affect the clinical impact of the infection. 11 IRG
                transcript levels were measured in P. falciparum isolates by
                RT-PCR, and IgG/IgM against invasion ligands by Luminex(R), in
                50 Mozambican adults, 25 children with severe malaria (SM) and
                25 with uncomplicated malaria (UM). IRG expression differences
                among groups and associations between IRG expression and
                clinical/immunologic parameters were assessed. IRG expression
                diversity was higher in parasites infecting children than adults
                (p = 0.022). eba140 and ptramp expression decreased with age (p
                = 0.003 and 0.007, respectively) whereas p41 expression
                increased (p = 0.022). pfrh5 reduction in expression was abrupt
                early in life. Parasite density decreased with increasing pfrh5
                expression (p < 0.001) and, only in children, parasite
                density increased with p41 expression (p = 0.007), and decreased
                with eba175 (p = 0.013). Antibody responses and IRG expression
                were not associated. In conclusion, IRG expression is associated
                with age and parasite density, but not with specific antibody
                responses in the acute phase of infection. Our results confirm
                the importance of multi-antigen vaccines development to avoid
                parasite immune escape when tested in malaria-exposed
                individuals.

# metadata.dc.source[].value
Articles publicats en revistes (ISGlobal)

# metadata.dc.title[].value
Host age and expression of genes involved in red blood cell
                invasion in Plasmodium falciparum field isolates