Novel correlates of acquired immunity to malaria
People can develop immunity to malaria following repeated exposure; hence the global search for a vaccine. However, it remains unclear how immunity is acquired. We propose that immunity to Plasmodium falciparum malaria requires specific types of humoral and cell-mediated cooperation, in particular merozoite opsonisation and memory CD4 T cell effector functions. We have investigated our model in longitudinal human population studies from Papua New Guinea (PNG) using in vitro assays of functional immunity. Novel whole-parasite techniques were developed to quantify merozoite opsonisation and functional CD4 T cell memory by 16-parameter flow-cytometry, and data related to clinical and parasitological outcomes. We have identified merozoite opsonisation as a strain-transcending definitive correlate of protective immunity, with up to a 85% decrease in risk of clinical malaria observed. We have measured the frequency, magnitude and breadth of CD4 memory responses to merozoites, including production of IFNγ, TNF and IL-10 and poly- functional T cells. In what is the most comprehensive study of its kind to date, investigating humoral and cell-mediated mechanisms has enabled us to build a detailed model of natural immunity and has identified novel biomarkers that will assist the evaluation of future vaccines.
Date: 21 April 2015, 12:00
Venue: Medawar Building, off South Parks Road OX1 3SY
Venue Details: Call 281231on arrival for entry
Speaker: Dr Danika Hill (Population Health and Immunity Division Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research Melbourne, Australia)
Organising department: Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine
Part of: Peter Medawar Building Seminars
Booking required?: Not required
Audience: Members of the University only
Editor: Chris Willberg