Antigenic diversity of Plasmodium vivax and their geographic distribution in Thailand

Fifty-eight monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) raised against the erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium vivax were selected for typing of 501 P. vivax isolates from different geographic locations throughout Thailand. Based on their reactivities in the indirect fluorescent antibody test, these MAbs were classified into five groups: group I MAbs showing generalized staining of all blood stages; group II MAbs reacting with merozoites and their organelles; group III MAbs reacting with the surface membrane of merozoites; Group V MAbs reacting with the surface membrane of trophozoites and schizonts; and group VII MAbs reacting with internal components of the parasites. Sixteen MAbs reacted with more than 95% of the isolates; the epitopes recognized by these MAbs were considered as being invariant. The remaining MAbs reacted with 30-90% of the isolates, and the epitopes recognized by these MAbs were regarded as being variable. The variant epitopes were associated with > 200-, 135-, and 100-kilodalton (kDa) molecules of all blood stages, the 95-kDa molecule on merozoite organelles, the 200-kDa molecule on the surface of trophozoites and schizonts, and the 85-kDa molecule of the parasite internal components. Antigenic diversity occurred among the P. vivax population in the endemic areas of Thailand and was shown to vary from place to place and was highest in the area with the highest rate of transmission along the Myanmar border in western Thailand and along the Cambodian border in eastern Thailand, including Trat (48.4%), Tak (41.7%), Chantaburi (36.5%), and Mae Hong Son (36.4%). Demonstration of antigenic diversity of P. vivax parasites signals a note of caution in the development of vaccines for vivax malaria. The vaccines should be directed against protective, conserved and not against variant epitopes.