Kemri-Wellcome Trust Research Programme: Antibody-dependent neutrophil function as a correlate of naturally acquired immunity against Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

Antibodies have been shown to play an important role in acquired natural immunity against clinical malaria. Antibodies can directly neutralize parasites on their own or act together with other cellular effectors resulting in parasite death. Neutrophils are the most abundant leucocytes in the circulation with direct and potent phagocytic activity, as well as indirect oxygen-dependent killing capacity. However, to date, the contribution of neutrophil activity to acquired immunity against malaria has only been analysed in a handful of studies. These studies have focused on oxygen dependent mechanisms in which the release of reactive oxygen species is quantified. Although neutrophils have been shown to ingest and phagocytose free merozoites, the contribution of this activity to acquired immunity in malaria has not been studied. We propose to assess the contribution of both oxygen-dependent and -independent mechanisms of neutrophil activity to acquired immunity against malaria. We will te st whether antibody-dependent neutrophil activity is associated with a reduced risk of clinical episodes of malaria in a cohort of children (2-12 years) living in an endemic area.

Programme: International Masters Fellowship

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