Malaria transmission-blocking immunity induced by natural infections of Plasmodium vivax in humans

KN Mendis, YD Munesinghe, YN De Silva… - Infection and …, 1987 - Am Soc Microbiol
KN Mendis, YD Munesinghe, YN De Silva, I Keragalla, R Carter
Infection and immunity, 1987Am Soc Microbiol
Immunity to malarial infections in human populations is known to affect the development of
the asexual blood stages of the parasites in the human host and to be capable of conferring
significant protection against morbidity and mortality due to the disease. In this study we
show that during acute infection with Plasmodium vivax malaria, one of the two main
malarial pathogens of humans, most individuals also develop immunity that suppresses the
infectivity of the sexual stages of the parasite to mosquitoes. The immunity is antibody …
Immunity to malarial infections in human populations is known to affect the development of the asexual blood stages of the parasites in the human host and to be capable of conferring significant protection against morbidity and mortality due to the disease. In this study we show that during acute infection with Plasmodium vivax malaria, one of the two main malarial pathogens of humans, most individuals also develop immunity that suppresses the infectivity of the sexual stages of the parasite to mosquitoes. The immunity is antibody mediated and is directed against the parasites in the mosquito midgut shortly after ingestion of blood by a mosquito. This immunity could be expected to have significant effects on the natural transmission of P. vivax malaria.
American Society for Microbiology