Research Article | | Peer-Reviewed

Naturally Acquired Immune Responses to Antigens of the Sexual and Asexual Stages of Plasmodium Falciparum in the Southern and Central Regions of Senegal

Received: 9 November 2025     Accepted: 2 December 2025     Published: 30 December 2025
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

In Senegal, despite numerous malaria control interventions, transmission is still seasonal. Malaria transmission depends on the presence of infectious parasites in the sexual stage in human peripheral blood. Immune responses acquired naturally at these or other stages can affect malaria transmission, resulting in protection against malaria, reduced transmission, and also form the basis for the development of transmission-blocking vaccines. To evaluate the antibody response profile against the asexual antigens PfAMA1, PfMSP119, Pf GLURP R2 and the sexual antigens Pfs230C1, Pfs48.45.6C in inhabitants naturally exposed to malaria in areas with different levels of transmission in Senegal. A cross-sectional study was carried out at the end of the transmission season in central (Keur Socé) and southern (Saraya) Senegal in 2018. We included 1106 asymptomatic volunteers aged 5 and over. Capillary blood was collected from each participant for an RDT, 2 slides for microscopy and a dried blood spot samples for immunology. A Luminex serological multiplex bead assay was then used to assess Plasmodium falciparum seroprevalence Our study population was characterized by a very young population with a median age of 12  15 years. The parasite prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum was 21.75% and 2.75% by RDT and 22.1% and 2.2% by microscopy for the southern and central regions respectively. Two other plasmodial species were found in Saraya, with prevalences of 1.61% for P. malariae and 0.18% for P. ovale. The mean seroprevalences of antibodies against three asexual blood-stage antigens (PfAMA1, PfGLURP and PfMSP119) and two sexualstage antigens (Pfs48.45.6C and Pfs230C1) were significantly higher in Saraya. In Keur Socé, the mean seroprevalence of antibodies against the PfAMA1 antigen was highest (1.83%), while in Saraya, PfMSP119 was highest (49.91%). The antigenicity of these proteins depended on endemicity levels, as antibody prevalence was statistically different in the two sites and increased with transmission intensity. With the exception of anti-Pfs48.45.6C antibody levels, all other antibody responses increased with age. Overall, these data indicate that the seroprevalence and antivody levels of individuals with antibodies recognizing all five antigens increase with exposure to infection, and that these antibodies may contribute to immunity against parasites. Children receiving SMC should also be monitored, as we have noted a loss of immunity in this group.

Published in International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy (Volume 10, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijidt.20251004.14
Page(s) 105-117
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Antigens, Antibodies, Immunology, Plasmodium Falciparum, Transmission

References
[1] Combemorel P. Le cycle de vie de Plasmodium falciparum | Planet-Vie [The life cycle of Plasmodium falciparum | Planet-Life]. 2019 [cité 30 nov 2025].
[2] Barry A, Hansen D. Naturally acquired immunity to malaria. Parasitology. févr 2016; 143(2): 125-8.
[3] Epidemiology and Infectivity of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax Gametocytes in Relation to Malaria Control and Elimination | Clinical Microbiology Reviews [Internet]. [cité 30 nov 2025].
[4] Khan SM, Franke-Fayard B, Mair GR, Lasonder E, Janse CJ, Mann M, et al. Proteome analysis of separated male and female gametocytes reveals novel sex-specific Plasmodium biology. Cell. 3 juin 2005; 121(5): 675-87.
[5] van Dijk MR, Janse CJ, Thompson J, Waters AP, Braks JA, Dodemont HJ, et al. A central role for P48/45 in malaria parasite male gamete fertility. Cell. 12 janv 2001; 104(1): 153-64.
[6] Tachibana M, Miura K, Takashima E, Morita M, Nagaoka H, Zhou L, et al. Identification of domains within Pfs230 that elicit transmission blocking antibody responses. Vaccine. 22 mars 2019; 37(13): 1799-806.
[7] Sauerwein RW, Bousema T. Transmission blocking malaria vaccines: Assays and candidates in clinical development. Vaccine. 22 déc 2015; 33(52): 7476-82.
[8] Yazdani SS, Mukherjee P, Chauhan VS, Chitnis CE. Immune responses to asexual blood-stages of malaria parasites. Curr Mol Med. mars 2006; 6(2): 187-203.
[9] Healer J, Chiu CY, Hansen DS. Mechanisms of naturally acquired immunity to P. falciparum and approaches to identify merozoite antigen targets. Parasitology. juin 2018; 145(7): 839-47.
[10] De Jong RM, Tebeje SK, Meerstein-Kessel L, Tadesse FG, Jore MM, Stone W, et al. Immunity against sexual stage Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax parasites. Immunol Rev. janv 2020; 293(1): 190-215.
[11] Ouédraogo AL, Roeffen W, Luty AJF, de Vlas SJ, Nebie I, Ilboudo-Sanogo E, et al. Naturally Acquired Immune Responses to Plasmodium falciparum Sexual Stage Antigens Pfs48/45 and Pfs230 in an Area of Seasonal Transmission ▿. Infect Immun. déc 2011; 79(12): 4957-64.
[12] Kengne-Ouafo JA, Sutherland CJ, Binka FN, Awandare GA, Urban BC, Dinko B. Immune Responses to the Sexual Stages of Plasmodium falciparum Parasites. Front Immunol [Internet]. 1 févr 2019 [cité 30 nov 2025]; 10.
[13] Linn AM, Ndiaye Y, Hennessee I, Gaye S, Linn P, Nordstrom K, et al. Reduction in symptomatic malaria prevalence through proactive community treatment in rural Senegal. Trop Med Int Health TM IH. nov 2015; 20(11): 1438-46.
[14] Ndiaye Y, Ndiaye JLA, Cisse B, Blanas D, Bassene J, Manga IA, et al. Community case management in malaria: review and perspectives after four years of operational experience in Saraya district, south-east Senegal. Malar J. 12 juill 2013; 12: 240.
[15] Agence Nationale de la Statistique et de la Démographie (ANSD) et ICF International. Enquête Démographique et de Santé à Indicateurs Multiples Sénégal (EDS-MICS) 2010-2011 [National Agency for Statistics and Demography (ANSD) and ICF International. Senegal Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS-EDS) 2010-2011]. Calverton, Maryland, USA; 2012. (ANSD et ICF International).
[16] Ndiath M, Faye B, Cisse B, Ndiaye JL, Gomis JF, Dia AT, et al. Identifying malaria hotspots in Keur Soce health and demographic surveillance site in context of low transmission. Malar J. 24 nov 2014; 13(1): 453.
[17] Sylla K, Tine RCK, Ndiaye M, Sow D, Sarr A, Mbuyi MLT, et al. Sero-epidemiological evaluation of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Senegal. Malar J. 16 juill 2015; 14(1): 275.
[18] World Health Organization. World malaria report 2020 [Internet]. [cité 17 oct 2025]. Report No.: 978-92-4-001579-1.
[19] Muerhoff AS, Birkenmeyer LG, Coffey R, Dille BJ, Barnwell JW, Collins WE, et al. Detection of Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae Merozoite Surface Protein 1-p19 Antibodies in Human Malaria Patients and Experimentally Infected Nonhuman Primates. Clin Vaccine Immunol CVI. oct 2010; 17(10): 1631-8.
[20] Rogier E, van den Hoogen L, Herman C, Gurrala K, Joseph V, Stresman G, et al. High-throughput malaria serosurveillance using a one-step multiplex bead assay. Malar J. 4 déc 2019; 18(1): 402.
[21] Eacret JS, Parzych EM, Gonzales DM, Burns JM. Inclusion of an optimized Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 2-based antigen in a trivalent, multi-stage malaria vaccine. J Immunol Baltim Md 1950. 15 avr 2021; 206(8): 1817-31.
[22] Cissé B, Ba EH, Sokhna C, NDiaye JL, Gomis JF, Dial Y, et al. Effectiveness of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention in Children under Ten Years of Age in Senegal: A Stepped-Wedge Cluster-Randomised Trial. PLoS Med. nov 2016; 13(11): e1002175.
[23] Wongsrichanalai, C., et al. (2007) A Review of Malaria Diagnostic Tools Microscopy and Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT). The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 77, 119-127. - References - Scientific Research Publishing [Internet]. [cité 30 nov 2025].
[24] Bousema T, Okell L, Felger I, Drakeley C. Asymptomatic malaria infections: detectability, transmissibility and public health relevance. Nat Rev Microbiol. déc 2014; 12(12): 833-40.
[25] Lengeler C. Insecticide-treated bed nets and curtains for preventing malaria. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;(2): CD000363.
[26] McCallum FJ, Persson KEM, Fowkes FJI, Reiling L, Mugyenyi CK, Richards JS, et al. Differing rates of antibody acquisition to merozoite antigens in malaria: implications for immunity and surveillance. J Leukoc Biol. avr 2017; 101(4): 913-25.
[27] Bousema T, Roeffen W, Meijerink H, Mwerinde H, Mwakalinga S, van Gemert GJ, et al. The dynamics of naturally acquired immune responses to Plasmodium falciparum sexual stage antigens Pfs230 & Pfs48/45 in a low endemic area in Tanzania. PloS One. 29 nov 2010; 5(11): e14114.
[28] Broni FK, Acquah FK, Obiri-Yeboah D, Obboh EK, Sarpong E, Amoah LE. Profiling the Quality and Quantity of Naturally Induced Antibody Responses Against Pfs230 and Pfs48/45 Among Non-Febrile Children Living in Southern Ghana: A Longitudinal Study. Front Cell Infect Microbiol [Internet]. 25 nov 2021 [cité 17 oct 2025]; 11.
[29] Acquah FK, Obboh EK, Asare K, Boampong JN, Nuvor SV, Singh SK, et al. Antibody responses to two new Lactococcus lactis-produced recombinant Pfs48/45 and Pfs230 proteins increase with age in malaria patients living in the Central Region of Ghana. Malar J. 1 août 2017; 16(1): 306.
[30] Taylor RR, Egan A, McGuinness D, Jepson A, Adair R, Drakely C, et al. Selective recognition of malaria antigens by human serum antibodies is not genetically determined but demonstrates some features of clonal imprinting. Int Immunol. juin 1996; 8(6): 905-15.
[31] Yazdanbakhsh M, Sacks DL. Why does immunity to parasites take so long to develop? Nat Rev Immunol. févr 2010; 10(2): 80-1.
[32] Giha HA, Nasr A, Iriemenam NC, Balogun HA, Arnot D, Theander TG, et al. Age-dependent association between IgG2 and IgG3 subclasses to Pf332-C231 antigen and protection from malaria, and induction of protective antibodies by sub-patent malaria infections, in Daraweesh. Vaccine. 17 févr 2010; 28(7): 1732-9.
[33] Fowkes FJI, McGready R, Cross NJ, Hommel M, Simpson JA, Elliott SR, et al. New Insights into Acquisition, Boosting, and Longevity of Immunity to Malaria in Pregnant Women. J Infect Dis. 15 nov 2012; 206(10): 1612-21.
[34] Lima-Junior J da C, Pratt-Riccio LR. Major Histocompatibility Complex and Malaria: Focus on Plasmodium vivax Infection. Front Immunol. 2016; 7: 13.
[35] Pratt-Riccio LR, De Souza Perce-Da-Silva D, Da Costa Lima-Junior J, Pratt Riccio EK, Ribeiro-Alves M, Santos F, et al. Synthetic Antigens Derived from Plasmodium falciparum Sporozoite, Liver, and Blood Stages: Naturally Acquired Immune Response and Human Leukocyte Antigen Associations in Individuals Living in a Brazilian Endemic Area. Am J Trop Med Hyg. nov 2017; 97(5): 1581-92.
[36] Pratt-Riccio LR, Perce-da-Silva D de S, Lima-Junior J da C, Theisen M, Santos F, Daniel-Ribeiro CT, et al. Genetic polymorphisms in the glutamate-rich protein of Plasmodium falciparum field isolates from a malaria-endemic area of Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. juin 2013; 108(4): 523-8.
[37] Osier FHA, Fegan G, Polley SD, Murungi L, Verra F, Tetteh KKA, et al. Breadth and Magnitude of Antibody Responses to Multiple Plasmodium falciparum Merozoite Antigens Are Associated with Protection from Clinical Malaria. Infect Immun. mai 2008; 76(5): 2240-8.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Aminata, L., Colle, L. A., Catriona, P., Khadime, S., Khadime, K., et al. (2025). Naturally Acquired Immune Responses to Antigens of the Sexual and Asexual Stages of Plasmodium Falciparum in the Southern and Central Regions of Senegal. International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy, 10(4), 105-117. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20251004.14

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Aminata, L.; Colle, L. A.; Catriona, P.; Khadime, S.; Khadime, K., et al. Naturally Acquired Immune Responses to Antigens of the Sexual and Asexual Stages of Plasmodium Falciparum in the Southern and Central Regions of Senegal. Int. J. Infect. Dis. Ther. 2025, 10(4), 105-117. doi: 10.11648/j.ijidt.20251004.14

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Aminata L, Colle LA, Catriona P, Khadime S, Khadime K, et al. Naturally Acquired Immune Responses to Antigens of the Sexual and Asexual Stages of Plasmodium Falciparum in the Southern and Central Regions of Senegal. Int J Infect Dis Ther. 2025;10(4):105-117. doi: 10.11648/j.ijidt.20251004.14

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.ijidt.20251004.14,
      author = {Lam Aminata and Lo Aminata Colle and Patterson Catriona and Sylla Khadime and Kebe Khadime and Gaye Ndeye Aida and Manga Isaac Akhenaton and Lelo Souleye and Fall Cheikh Binetou and Diouf Marie Pierre and Minlekib Carole Pab and Tine Roger Clement and Gaye Omar and Drakeley Chris and Faye Babacar},
      title = {Naturally Acquired Immune Responses to Antigens of the Sexual and Asexual Stages of Plasmodium Falciparum in the Southern and Central Regions of Senegal},
      journal = {International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy},
      volume = {10},
      number = {4},
      pages = {105-117},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijidt.20251004.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20251004.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijidt.20251004.14},
      abstract = {In Senegal, despite numerous malaria control interventions, transmission is still seasonal. Malaria transmission depends on the presence of infectious parasites in the sexual stage in human peripheral blood. Immune responses acquired naturally at these or other stages can affect malaria transmission, resulting in protection against malaria, reduced transmission, and also form the basis for the development of transmission-blocking vaccines. To evaluate the antibody response profile against the asexual antigens PfAMA1, PfMSP119, Pf GLURP R2 and the sexual antigens Pfs230C1, Pfs48.45.6C in inhabitants naturally exposed to malaria in areas with different levels of transmission in Senegal. A cross-sectional study was carried out at the end of the transmission season in central (Keur Socé) and southern (Saraya) Senegal in 2018. We included 1106 asymptomatic volunteers aged 5 and over. Capillary blood was collected from each participant for an RDT, 2 slides for microscopy and a dried blood spot samples for immunology. A Luminex serological multiplex bead assay was then used to assess Plasmodium falciparum seroprevalence Our study population was characterized by a very young population with a median age of 12  15 years. The parasite prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum was 21.75% and 2.75% by RDT and 22.1% and 2.2% by microscopy for the southern and central regions respectively. Two other plasmodial species were found in Saraya, with prevalences of 1.61% for P. malariae and 0.18% for P. ovale. The mean seroprevalences of antibodies against three asexual blood-stage antigens (PfAMA1, PfGLURP and PfMSP119) and two sexualstage antigens (Pfs48.45.6C and Pfs230C1) were significantly higher in Saraya. In Keur Socé, the mean seroprevalence of antibodies against the PfAMA1 antigen was highest (1.83%), while in Saraya, PfMSP119 was highest (49.91%). The antigenicity of these proteins depended on endemicity levels, as antibody prevalence was statistically different in the two sites and increased with transmission intensity. With the exception of anti-Pfs48.45.6C antibody levels, all other antibody responses increased with age. Overall, these data indicate that the seroprevalence and antivody levels of individuals with antibodies recognizing all five antigens increase with exposure to infection, and that these antibodies may contribute to immunity against parasites. Children receiving SMC should also be monitored, as we have noted a loss of immunity in this group.},
     year = {2025}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Naturally Acquired Immune Responses to Antigens of the Sexual and Asexual Stages of Plasmodium Falciparum in the Southern and Central Regions of Senegal
    AU  - Lam Aminata
    AU  - Lo Aminata Colle
    AU  - Patterson Catriona
    AU  - Sylla Khadime
    AU  - Kebe Khadime
    AU  - Gaye Ndeye Aida
    AU  - Manga Isaac Akhenaton
    AU  - Lelo Souleye
    AU  - Fall Cheikh Binetou
    AU  - Diouf Marie Pierre
    AU  - Minlekib Carole Pab
    AU  - Tine Roger Clement
    AU  - Gaye Omar
    AU  - Drakeley Chris
    AU  - Faye Babacar
    Y1  - 2025/12/30
    PY  - 2025
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20251004.14
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijidt.20251004.14
    T2  - International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy
    JF  - International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy
    JO  - International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy
    SP  - 105
    EP  - 117
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2578-966X
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20251004.14
    AB  - In Senegal, despite numerous malaria control interventions, transmission is still seasonal. Malaria transmission depends on the presence of infectious parasites in the sexual stage in human peripheral blood. Immune responses acquired naturally at these or other stages can affect malaria transmission, resulting in protection against malaria, reduced transmission, and also form the basis for the development of transmission-blocking vaccines. To evaluate the antibody response profile against the asexual antigens PfAMA1, PfMSP119, Pf GLURP R2 and the sexual antigens Pfs230C1, Pfs48.45.6C in inhabitants naturally exposed to malaria in areas with different levels of transmission in Senegal. A cross-sectional study was carried out at the end of the transmission season in central (Keur Socé) and southern (Saraya) Senegal in 2018. We included 1106 asymptomatic volunteers aged 5 and over. Capillary blood was collected from each participant for an RDT, 2 slides for microscopy and a dried blood spot samples for immunology. A Luminex serological multiplex bead assay was then used to assess Plasmodium falciparum seroprevalence Our study population was characterized by a very young population with a median age of 12  15 years. The parasite prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum was 21.75% and 2.75% by RDT and 22.1% and 2.2% by microscopy for the southern and central regions respectively. Two other plasmodial species were found in Saraya, with prevalences of 1.61% for P. malariae and 0.18% for P. ovale. The mean seroprevalences of antibodies against three asexual blood-stage antigens (PfAMA1, PfGLURP and PfMSP119) and two sexualstage antigens (Pfs48.45.6C and Pfs230C1) were significantly higher in Saraya. In Keur Socé, the mean seroprevalence of antibodies against the PfAMA1 antigen was highest (1.83%), while in Saraya, PfMSP119 was highest (49.91%). The antigenicity of these proteins depended on endemicity levels, as antibody prevalence was statistically different in the two sites and increased with transmission intensity. With the exception of anti-Pfs48.45.6C antibody levels, all other antibody responses increased with age. Overall, these data indicate that the seroprevalence and antivody levels of individuals with antibodies recognizing all five antigens increase with exposure to infection, and that these antibodies may contribute to immunity against parasites. Children receiving SMC should also be monitored, as we have noted a loss of immunity in this group.
    VL  - 10
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Sections