Following infection with Plasmodium falciparum malaria, children in endemic areas develop antibodies specific to antigens on the parasite-infected red cell surface of the infecting isolate, antibodies associated with protection against subsequent infection with that isolate. In some circumstances induction of antibodies to heterologous parasite isolates also occurs and this has been suggested as evidence for cross-reactivity of responses against the erythrocyte surface. The role of these relatively cross-reactive antibodies in protection from clinical malaria is currently unknown. We studied the incidence of clinical malaria amongst children living on the coast of Kenya through one high transmission season. By categorising individuals according to their pre-season parasite status and antibody response to the surface of erythrocytes infected with four parasite isolates we were able to identify a group of children, those who failed to make a concomitant antibody response in the presence of an asymptomatic parasitaemia, at increased susceptibility to clinical malaria in the subsequent 6 months. The fact that this susceptible group was identified regardless of the parasite isolate tested infers a cross-reactive or conserved target is present on the surface of infected erythrocytes. Identification of this target will significantly aid understanding of naturally acquired immunity to clinical malaria amongst children in endemic areas.

中文翻译：

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未能对感染恶性疟原虫的红细胞表面作出反应，预示着非洲儿童对临床疟疾的易感性。

感染恶性疟原虫疟疾后，流行地区的儿童会在感染分离株的被寄生虫感染的红细胞表面产生针对抗原的特异性抗体，这些抗体与对该分离株随后感染的保护相关。在某些情况下，也会出现针对异源寄生虫分离株的抗体的诱导，这已被认为是针对红细胞表面的反应交叉反应的证据。这些相对交叉反应的抗体在预防临床疟疾方面的作用目前尚不清楚。我们通过一个高传播季节研究了肯尼亚海岸儿童临床疟疾的发病率。通过根据季节前寄生虫状态和对感染四种寄生虫分离株的红细胞表面的抗体反应对个体进行分类，我们能够识别出一组儿童，即那些在存在无症状寄生虫血症的情况下未能产生伴随抗体反应的儿童, 在随后的 6 个月内对临床疟疾的易感性增加。无论测试的寄生虫分离物如何，都确定了该易感组，这一事实表明受感染的红细胞表面存在交叉反应或保守靶标。确定这一目标将大大有助于了解流行地区儿童对临床疟疾的自然获得免疫。在存在无症状寄生虫血症的情况下未能同时产生抗体反应的人，在随后的 6 个月内对临床疟疾的易感性增加。无论测试的寄生虫分离物如何，都确定了该易感组，这一事实表明受感染的红细胞表面存在交叉反应或保守靶标。确定这一目标将大大有助于了解流行地区儿童对临床疟疾的自然获得免疫。在存在无症状寄生虫血症的情况下未能同时产生抗体反应的人，在随后的 6 个月内对临床疟疾的易感性增加。无论测试的寄生虫分离物如何，都确定了该易感组，这一事实表明受感染的红细胞表面存在交叉反应或保守靶标。确定这一目标将大大有助于了解流行地区儿童对临床疟疾的自然获得免疫。