Efficient Measurement of Opsonising Antibodies to Plasmodium falciparum Merozoites

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051692
• Publication Date: 2012-12-26T22:13:34Z
• Authors: Danika L. Hill; Emily M. Eriksson; Amandine B. Carma...; Danny W. Wilson; Alan F. Cowman; Diana S. Hansen; Louis Schofield
• Keywords: Plasmodium (life cycle)

Background Antibodies targeting merozoites are important in protection from malaria. Therefore, merozoite surface proteins attractive vaccine candidates. There is a need for robust functional assays to investigate mechanisms of acquired immunity and efficacy. To date, the study phagocytosis has been confounded by complexity variability vitro assays. Methodology/Principal findings We have developed new flow cytometry-based assay. An optimized preparation technique produced high yields separated haemozoin. Phagocytosis undifferentiated THP-1 monocytic cell line was mediated only Fc Receptors, therefore ideal studying opsonising antibody responses. The assay showed with highly diluted immune sera strong inter-assay correlation. effectively measured differences opsonisation-dependent among individuals. Conclusions/Significance This reproducible potential applications assessing role opsonic naturally trials.