A longitudinal study of malaria infection, morbidity and antibody titres in infants of a rural community in Ghana.
(1996)
Journal - Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ENGLAND )
| ISSN : | 0035-9203 |
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| Mesh Heading : | Antibodies, Protozoan Female Ghana Humans Immunoglobulin G Infant Infant, Newborn Longitudinal Studies Malaria, Falciparum Morbidity Pregnancy Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic Rural Population analysis epidemiology analysis epidemiology |
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| Mesh Heading Relevant : | immunology immunology |
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Serum immunoglobin and complement levels in Ghanaian sickle cell patients in the steady asymptomatic state.
(1991)
Journal - East African medical journal (KENYA )
Abstract :
Serum IgM levels in sickle cell patients in the steady asymptomatic state were determined using radial immunodiffusion and found to be significantly higher than in health controls. Other immunoglobulins (IgA and IgG) were not significantly different from those of the controls. However concentrations of both C3 and C4 components of complements were significantly lower in sickle cell disease. This explains the low opsonization and chemotactic functions observed in these patients and further confirms the transient activation of the alternate pathway of complement. Abnormal complement C3 metabolism may explain the high susceptibility of patients to infections which contributes to the crisis in sickle cell disease.
| ISSN : | 0012-835X |
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| Mesh Heading : | Adolescent Adult Anemia, Sickle Cell Complement C3 Complement C4 Female Ghana Hospitals, Teaching Humans Immunoglobulin A Immunoglobulin G Immunoglobulin M Male epidemiology genetics analysis analysis epidemiology blood blood |
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| Mesh Heading Relevant : | blood blood |
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Lack of Association between Maternal Antibody and Protection of African Infants from Malaria Infection
(2000)
Journal - Infection and Immunity
Abstract :
Maternally derived antibodies are believed to protect infants against infection, but there is little direct evidence for a protective role of passively acquired antibodies against malaria. A longitudinal study of malaria infection in 143 infants was conducted in a region of southern Ghana where Plasmodium falciparum is endemic. Infants born in the high-transmission season were less likely to become infected in the first 20 weeks of life than children born in the low-transmission season. Plasma, obtained at birth, was tested for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgG subclasses to P. falciparum schizonts and recombinant circumsporozoite antigen, MSP-119, MSP-2, AMA-1, and Pf155 (also called ring-infected erytrocyte surface antigen). Antibody levels at birth were not associated with resistance to malaria infection. On the contrary, antibodies at birth were positively associated with infection, indicating that high levels of maternally derived antibodies represent a marker for intensity of exposure to malaria infection in infants. However, all five children who experienced high-density infections (>100 parasites/µl of blood) were seronegative for MSP-119 at the time of infection.