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Antibody signatures of asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum malaria infections measured from dried blood spots
- Source :
- Malaria Journal, Vol 20, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2021)
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2021.
-
Abstract
- Background Screening malaria-specific antibody responses on protein microarrays can help identify immune factors that mediate protection against malaria infection, disease, and transmission, as well as markers of past exposure to both malaria parasites and mosquito vectors. Most malaria protein microarray work has used serum as the sample matrix, requiring prompt laboratory processing and a continuous cold chain, thus limiting applications in remote locations. Dried blood spots (DBS) pose minimal biohazard, do not require immediate laboratory processing, and are stable at room temperature for transport, making them potentially superior alternatives to serum. The goals of this study were to assess the viability of DBS as a source for antibody profiling and to use DBS to identify serological signatures of low-density Plasmodium falciparum infections in malaria-endemic regions of Myanmar. Methods Matched DBS and serum samples from a cross-sectional study in Ingapu Township, Myanmar were probed on protein microarrays populated with P. falciparum antigen fragments. Signal and trends in both sample matrices were compared. A case-control study was then performed using banked DBS samples from malaria-endemic regions of Myanmar, and a regularized logistic regression model was used to identify antibody signatures of ultrasensitive PCR-positive P. falciparum infections. Results Approximately 30% of serum IgG activity was recovered from DBS. Despite this loss of antibody activity, antigen and population trends were well-matched between the two sample matrices. Responses to 18 protein fragments were associated with the odds of asymptomatic P. falciparum infection, albeit with modest diagnostic characteristics (sensitivity 58%, specificity 85%, negative predictive value 88%, and positive predictive value 52%). Conclusions Malaria-specific antibody responses can be reliably detected, quantified, and analysed from DBS, opening the door to serological studies in populations where serum collection, transport, and storage would otherwise be impossible. While test characteristics of antibody signatures were insufficient for individual diagnosis, serological testing may be useful for identifying exposure to asymptomatic, low-density malaria infections, particularly if sero-surveillance strategies target individuals with low previous exposure as sentinels for population exposure.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
Adolescent
RC955-962
Plasmodium falciparum
Population
Antibodies, Protozoan
Infectious and parasitic diseases
RC109-216
Myanmar
Asymptomatic
Serology
Asymptomatic malaria
Young Adult
Antigen
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine
parasitic diseases
medicine
Humans
Malaria, Falciparum
Child
education
Asymptomatic Infections
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
education.field_of_study
biology
business.industry
Protein microarrays
Middle Aged
medicine.disease
biology.organism_classification
Cross-Sectional Studies
Infectious Diseases
Case-Control Studies
Child, Preschool
Immunology
Protein microarray
biology.protein
Antibody responses
Female
Parasitology
Dried Blood Spot Testing
Antibody
medicine.symptom
business
Malaria
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14752875
- Volume :
- 20
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Malaria Journal
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....deaf2a10e4e459c470430a556740b8b9