Maternally-derived Antibodies to Schizont Egress Antigen-1 and Protection of Infants From Severe Malaria

Abstract

We demonstrate that maternally-derived, cord-blood anti-PfSEA-1 antibodies predict decreased risk of SM in infants and vaccination of mice with PbSEA-1 prior to pregnancy protects their offspring from lethal P. berghei challenge. These results identify, for the first time, a parasite-specific target of maternal antibodies that protect infants from SM and suggest that vaccination of pregnant women with PfSEA-1 may afford a survival advantage to their offspring.