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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

Methods to Investigate the Regulatory Role of Small RNAs and Ribosomal Occupancy of Plasmodium falciparum

Methods to Investigate the Regulatory Role of Small RNAs and Ribosomal Occupancy of Plasmodium falciparum

Published on: December 4, 2015

Pregnancy malaria: cryptic disease, apparent solution.

Patrick Emmet Duffy¹, Michal Fried

¹Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA. patrick.duffy@nih.gov

Memorias Do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz

|September 2, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Pregnancy malaria, caused by Plasmodium falciparum, leads to severe maternal and infant health issues. Developing a vaccine targeting placental-adhering parasites is feasible and could save numerous lives.

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Measuring Naturally Acquired Phagocytosis-Inducing Antibodies to Plasmodium falciparum Parasites by a Flow Cytometry-Based Assay

Measuring Naturally Acquired Phagocytosis-Inducing Antibodies to Plasmodium falciparum Parasites by a Flow Cytometry-Based Assay

Published on: August 6, 2020

Area of Science:

Immunology
Infectious Diseases
Obstetrics

Background:

Pregnancy malaria, particularly Plasmodium falciparum infections, poses significant risks to mothers and infants, often unrecognized.
Complications include maternal anemia, hypertension, low birth weight, and infant mortality, especially in semi-immune women.

Purpose of the Study:

To highlight the unique characteristics of placental malaria parasites.
To identify novel vaccine targets for preventing pregnancy malaria.
To assess the feasibility of a vaccine to protect pregnant mothers and their offspring.

Main Methods:

Characterization of Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes (IEs) binding to chondroitin sulphate A in the placenta.
Identification of variant and conserved antigens exported by placental parasites.
Review of preclinical vaccine development targeting placental IE antigens.

Main Results:

Pregnancy malaria is mediated by IEs with a unique adhesion phenotype, binding to chondroitin sulphate A and sequestering in the placenta.
Acquired immunity involves antibodies against placental IEs, improving maternal hemoglobin and infant birth weight.
Several placental parasite proteins are identified as potential vaccine targets, with some in preclinical development.

Conclusions:

A vaccine preventing Plasmodium falciparum malaria in pregnant women is achievable.
Such a vaccine could prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths annually.
Novel vaccine targets are needed due to the distinct antigenicity of placental parasites.