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Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite var gene expression is modified by host antibodies: longitudinal evidence from controlled infections of Kenyan adults with varying natural exposure

Overview of attention for article published in BMC Infectious Diseases, August 2017
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  • Above-average Attention Score compared to outputs of the same age (51st percentile)
  • Above-average Attention Score compared to outputs of the same age and source (58th percentile)

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Title
Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite var gene expression is modified by host antibodies: longitudinal evidence from controlled infections of Kenyan adults with varying natural exposure
Published in
BMC Infectious Diseases, August 2017
DOI 10.1186/s12879-017-2686-0
Pubmed ID
Authors

Abdirahman I. Abdi, Susanne H. Hodgson, Michelle K. Muthui, Cheryl A. Kivisi, Gathoni Kamuyu, Domtila Kimani, Stephen L. Hoffman, Elizabeth Juma, Bernhards Ogutu, Simon J. Draper, Faith Osier, Philip Bejon, Kevin Marsh, Peter C. Bull

Abstract

The PfEMP1 family of Plasmodium falciparum antigens play a key role in pathogenesis of severe malaria through their insertion into the surface of parasite infected erythrocytes, and adhesion to host cells. Previous studies have suggested that parasites expressing PfEMP1 subclasses group A and DC8, associated with severe malaria, may have a growth advantage in immunologically naïve individuals. However, this idea has not been tested in longitudinal studies. Here we assessed expression of the var genes encoding PfEMP1, in parasites sampled from volunteers with varying prior exposure to malaria, following experimental infection by sporozoites (PfSPZ). Using qPCR, we tested for associations between the expression of various var subgroups in surviving parasite populations from each volunteer and 1) the levels of participants' antibodies to infected erythrocytes before challenge infection and 2) the apparent in vivo parasite multiplication rate. We show that 1) expression of var genes encoding for group A and DC8-like PfEMP1 were associated with low levels of antibodies to infected erythrocytes (αIE) before challenge, and 2) expression of a DC8-like CIDRα1.1 domain was associated with higher apparent parasite multiplication rate in a manner that was independent of levels of prior antibodies to infected erythrocytes. This study provides insight into the role of antibodies to infected erythrocytes surface antigens in the development of naturally acquired immunity and may help explain why specific PfEMP1 variants may be associated with severe malaria. Pan African Clinical Trial Registry: PACTR201211000433272 . Date of registration: 10th October 2012.

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Mendeley readers

Mendeley readers

The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 80 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.

Geographical breakdown

Country Count As %
Unknown 80 100%

Demographic breakdown

Readers by professional status Count As %
Student > Ph. D. Student 14 18%
Student > Master 12 15%
Student > Bachelor 10 13%
Researcher 8 10%
Professor 4 5%
Other 13 16%
Unknown 19 24%
Readers by discipline Count As %
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology 14 18%
Agricultural and Biological Sciences 12 15%
Medicine and Dentistry 10 13%
Nursing and Health Professions 7 9%
Immunology and Microbiology 7 9%
Other 10 13%
Unknown 20 25%
Attention Score in Context

Attention Score in Context

This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 3. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 08 March 2018.
All research outputs
#13,053,501
of 22,999,744 outputs
Outputs from BMC Infectious Diseases
#3,051
of 7,719 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#150,113
of 317,355 outputs
Outputs of similar age from BMC Infectious Diseases
#64
of 158 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 22,999,744 research outputs across all sources so far. This one is in the 42nd percentile – i.e., 42% of other outputs scored the same or lower than it.
So far Altmetric has tracked 7,719 research outputs from this source. They typically receive a lot more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 10.1. This one has gotten more attention than average, scoring higher than 59% of its peers.
Older research outputs will score higher simply because they've had more time to accumulate mentions. To account for age we can compare this Altmetric Attention Score to the 317,355 tracked outputs that were published within six weeks on either side of this one in any source. This one has gotten more attention than average, scoring higher than 51% of its contemporaries.
We're also able to compare this research output to 158 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one has gotten more attention than average, scoring higher than 58% of its contemporaries.