Association of IgG reactivity to full-length VAR2CSA PfEMP1 with pregnancy outcomes in a malaria-endemic region

Malaria remains a global public health problem, and pregnant women are at risk of developing placental malaria, a complication of Plasmodium falciparum infections with sequestration of infected red blood cells in the intervillous space of the placenta. This complication is associated with placental insufficiency, which leads to adverse outcomes such as stillbirth, low birth weight, prematurity, and fetal growth restriction. Women living in areas of high transmission with prior exposure to pregnancy-specific antigens of P. falciparum may be protected against placental malaria. However, this protection may not be observed in areas of unstable transmission, such as the Americas, which account for the majority of P. vivax cases. Recently, data from Colombia have raised concerns about the possibility of cross-reactivity between P. falciparum and P. vivax antigens, with high levels of VAR2CSA antibodies reported in non-pregnant women. Data from Brazil are limited and require further investigation. Understanding the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of infection during pregnancy, as a result of this study, will not only contribute to the knowledge of the immunobiology of the disease, but also to the development of new diagnostic, interventional and therapeutic methodologies, with a significant impact on the field of malaria research.

Project details

Immunology
Vulnerable Populations

Aug 2024 — Aug 2025

Brazil