Plasmodium falciparum and Helminth Coinfections Increase IgE and Parasite-Specific IgG Responses
Rebeca Santano, Rocío Rubio, Berta Grau-Pujol, Valdemiro Escola, Osvaldo Muchisse, Inocência Cuamba, Marta Vidal, Pau Cisteró, Gemma Ruiz-Olalla, Ruth Aguilar, Maria Demontis, Jose Carlos Jamine, Anélsio Cossa, Charfudin Sacoor, Jorge Cano, Luis Izquierdo, Chetan E. Chitnis, Ross L. Coppel, Virander Chauhan, David Cavanagh, Sheetij Dutta, Evelina Angov, Deepak Gaur, Lisette van Lieshout, Bin Zhan, Jose Muñoz, Gemma Moncunill, Carlota Dobaño
Abstract
Coinfection with Plasmodium falciparum and helminths may impact the immune response to these parasites because they induce different immune profiles. We compared the antibody profile between groups of Mozambican individuals defined by P. falciparum and helminth previous exposure and/or current infection. Our results show a significant increase in antibody responses in individuals coexposed/coinfected with P. falciparum and helminths in comparison with individuals exposed/infected with only one of these parasites, and suggest that this increase is due to a more permissive immune environment to infection in the host. Importantly, this study takes previous exposure into account, which is particularly relevant in endemic areas where continuous infections imprint and shape the immune system. Deciphering the implications of coinfections deserves attention because accounting for the real interactions that occur in nature could improve the design of integrated disease control strategies.