Development and longevity of naturally acquired antibody and memory B cell responses against Plasmodium vivax infection

Abstract

Plasmodium vivax malaria causes significant public health problems in endemic regions. Considering the rapid spread of drug-resistant parasite strains and the development of hypnozoites in the liver with potential for relapse, development of a safe and effective vaccine for preventing, controlling, and eliminating the infection is critical. Immunity to malaria is mediated by antibodies that inhibit sporozoite or merozoite invasion into host cells and protect against clinical disease. Epidemiologic data from malaria endemic regions show the presence of naturally acquired antibodies to P. vivax antigens during and following infection. But data on the persistence of these antibodies, development of P. vivax-specific memory B cells (MBCs), and their relation to reduction of malaria severity and risk is limited. This review provides an overview of the acquisition and persistence of naturally acquired humoral immunity to P. vivax infection. Also, we summarize and discuss current progress in assessment of immune responses to candidate vaccine antigens in P. vivax patients from different transmission settings. Longitudinal studies of MBC and antibody responses to these antigens will open new avenues for developing vaccines against malaria infection and its transmission.