Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-8kt4b Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-24T15:29:31.475Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The diagnosis of malaria infection using a solid-phase radioimmunoassay for the detection of malaria antigens

Application to the detection of Plasmodium berghei infection in mice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

L. Mackey
Affiliation:
WHO Immunology Research and Training Centre, Centre de Transfusion, Hôpital Cantonal, 1211 Geneva 4
L. Perrin
Affiliation:
WHO Immunology Research and Training Centre, Centre de Transfusion, Hôpital Cantonal, 1211 Geneva 4
E. Leemans
Affiliation:
WHO Immunology Research and Training Centre, Centre de Transfusion, Hôpital Cantonal, 1211 Geneva 4
P. H. Lambert
Affiliation:
WHO Immunology Research and Training Centre, Centre de Transfusion, Hôpital Cantonal, 1211 Geneva 4

Summary

A method has been devised to show that malaria parasites can be detected serologically in infected blood with a high degree of sensitivity. Using a murine malaria model, parasites were demonstrated in a solid-phase radio-immunoassay which measured antibody-binding inhibition. Lysed red blood cells (r.b.c.) were incubated with labelled specific antibody and were then reacted in antigen-coated tubes. The degree of inhibition of antibody binding in the tubes correlated with the level of parasitaemia in the test blood. Using homologous antisera the test detected infection at a level of 1 parasite/million r.b.c. The specificity of the method was shown by comparison of antibody-binding inhibition in normal and infected r.b.c. and in r.b.c. from non-infected mice with induced reticulocytosis. The sensitivity was shown in vitro in tests of serially diluted blood of high parasitaemia and in vivo for the detection of early infection. The presence of antibody in the test blood did not significantly affect the sensitivity of parasite detection.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1980

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

references

Jensen, J. W. & Trager, W. (1977). Plasmodium falciparum in culture: use of outdated erythrocytes and description of the candle jar method. Journal of Parasitology 63, 883–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
June, C. H., Contreras, C. E., Perrin, L. C., Lambert, P. H. & Miescher, P. A. (1979). Circulating and tissue-bound immune complex formation in murine malaria. Journal of Immunology 122, 2154–61.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lustig, H. J., Nussenzweig, V. & Nussenzweig, R. S. (1977). Erythrocyte membrane-associated immunoglobulins during malaria infection of mice. Journal of Immunology 119, 210–16.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McConahey, P. H. & Dixon, F. J. (1966). A method for trace iodination of proteins for immunologic studies. International Archives of Allergy and Applied Immunology 29, 186–9.Google ScholarPubMed
Poels, L. G., Van Niekerk, C. C. & Franken, M. A. M. (1978). Plasmodial antigens exposed on the surface of infected reticulocytes: their role in induction of protective immunity in mice. Israel Journal of Medical Sciences 14, 575–81.Google ScholarPubMed
Seitz, H. M. (1976). The Plasmodium berghei infection in isogenic F1 (C57Bl×DBA) mice. II. Antibodies and antigens in the serum. Zeitschrift für Tropenmedizin Parasitologie 27, 3343.Google Scholar
Trager, W. & Jensen, J. B. (1976). Human malaria parasites in continuous culture. Science 193, 674–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Voller, A. (1976). Serodiagnosis of malaria. In Immunology of Parasitic Infections (ed. Cohen, S. and Sadun, E.), pp. 107119. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications.Google Scholar
World Health Organization (1974). Expert Committee on Malaria. WHO Technical Report Series, No. 16.Google Scholar
Wilson, R. J. M., McGregor, I. A., Hall, P., Williams, K. & Bartholomew, R. (1969). Antigens associated with Plasmodium falciparum infections in man. Lancet, ii, 201–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilson, R. J. M. (1974). The production of antigens by Plasmodium falciparum in vitro. International Journal for Parasitology 4, 537–47.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed