AUTHOR=Gonzales S. Jake , Reyes Raphael A. , Braddom Ashley E. , Batugedara Gayani , Bol Sebastiaan , Bunnik Evelien M. 

TITLE=Naturally Acquired Humoral Immunity Against Plasmodium falciparum Malaria

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.594653

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2020.594653

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<p>Malaria remains a significant contributor to the global burden of disease, with around 40% of the world’s population at risk of <italic>Plasmodium</italic> infections. The development of an effective vaccine against the malaria parasite would mark a breakthrough in the fight to eradicate the disease. Over time, natural infection elicits a robust immune response against the blood stage of the parasite, providing protection against malaria. In recent years, we have gained valuable insight into the mechanisms by which IgG acts to prevent pathology and inhibit parasite replication, as well as the potential role of immunoglobulin M (IgM) in these processes. Here, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms, acquisition, and maintenance of naturally acquired immunity, and the relevance of these discoveries for the development of a potential vaccine against the blood stage of <italic>Plasmodium falciparum</italic>.</p>