A model of parity-dependent immunity to placental malaria

Download
Author
Walker, PGT; Griffin, JT; Cairns, M; Rogerson, SJ; van Eijk, AM; ter Kuile, F; Ghani, ACDate
2013-03-01Source Title
NATURE COMMUNICATIONSPublisher
NATURE PUBLISHING GROUPUniversity of Melbourne Author/s
Rogerson, StephenAffiliation
Medicine - Royal Melbourne HospitalMetadata
Show full item recordDocument Type
Journal ArticleCitations
Walker, P. G. T., Griffin, J. T., Cairns, M., Rogerson, S. J., van Eijk, A. M., ter Kuile, F. & Ghani, A. C. (2013). A model of parity-dependent immunity to placental malaria. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 4 (1), https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms2605.Access Status
Open AccessOpen Access at PMC
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3615483Description
C1 - Journal Articles Refereed
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum placental infection during pregnancy is harmful for both mother and child. Protection from placental infection is parity-dependent, that is, acquired over consecutive pregnancies. However, the infection status of the placenta can only be assessed at delivery. Here, to better understand the mechanism underlying this parity-dependence, we fitted a model linking malaria dynamics within the general population to observed placental histology. Our results suggest that immunity resulting in less prolonged infection is a greater determinant of the parity-specific patterns than immunity that prevents placental sequestration. Our results also suggest the time when maternal blood first flows into the placenta is a high-risk period. Therefore, preventative strategies implementable before or early in pregnancy, such as insecticide-treated net usage in women of child-bearing age or any future vaccine, could substantially reduce the number of women who experience placental infection.
Keywords
Medical Parasitology; Infectious DiseasesExport Reference in RIS Format
Endnote
- Click on "Export Reference in RIS Format" and choose "open with... Endnote".
Refworks
- Click on "Export Reference in RIS Format". Login to Refworks, go to References => Import References