Recurrent Plasmodium falciparum malaria infections in Kenyan children diminish T-cell immunity to Epstein Barr virus lytic but not latent antigens
Snider, Cynthia J. ; Cole, Stephen R. ; Chelimo, Kiprotich ; Sumba, Peter Odada ; Macdonald, Pia D. M. ; John, Chandy C. ; Meshnick, Steven R. ; Moormann, Ann M.
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UMass Chan Affiliations
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Keywords
Burkitt Lymphoma
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
Child
Child, Preschool
Coinfection
Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay
Herpesvirus 4, Human
Humans
Immunity, Cellular
Infant
Interferon-gamma
Kenya
Malaria, Falciparum
Prevalence
Recurrence
Epidemiology
Health Services Research
Immunology and Infectious Disease
Parasitic Diseases
Virus Diseases
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Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum malaria (Pf-malaria) and Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) infections coexist in children at risk for endemic Burkitt's lymphoma (eBL); yet studies have only glimpsed the cumulative effect of Pf-malaria on EBV-specific immunity. Using pooled EBV lytic and latent CD8+ T-cell epitope-peptides, IFN-gamma ELISPOT responses were surveyed three times among children (10 months to 15 years) in Kenya from 2002-2004. Prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated in association with Pf-malaria exposure, defined at the district-level (Kisumu: holoendemic; Nandi: hypoendemic) and the individual-level. We observed a 46% decrease in positive EBV lytic antigen IFN-gamma responses among 5-9 year olds residing in Kisumu compared to Nandi (PR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.30-0.99). Individual-level analysis in Kisumu revealed further impairment of EBV lytic antigen responses among 5-9 year olds consistently infected with Pf-malaria compared to those never infected. There were no observed district- or individual-level differences between Pf-malaria exposure and EBV latent antigen IFN-gamma response. The gradual decrease of EBV lytic antigen but not latent antigen IFN-gamma responses after primary infection suggests a specific loss in immunological control over the lytic cycle in children residing in malaria holoendemic areas, further refining our understanding of eBL etiology.
Source
PLoS One. 2012;7(3):e31753. Epub 2012 Mar 12. Link to article on publisher's site