Reduced transplacental transfer of a subset of Epstein-Barr virus-specific antibodies to neonates of mothers infected with Plasmodium falciparum malaria during pre...

Abstract

Over 35% of children in a region of malaria endemicity are infected with Epstein- Barr virus (EBV) by 6 months of age. This susceptibility may be linked to impaired transplacental transfer of antibodies. In this study, we determined the effect of malaria exposure during pregnancy on the transfer of EBV-specific maternal antibodies in a region of western Kenya that experiences endemic malaria. Pregnant mothers were recruited and followed up until delivery to determine levels of neonatal malaria exposure. Levels of EBV lytic (viral capsid antigen [VCA], Z transcriptional activator [Zta], and early diffuse antigen complex [EAd]) and EBV latent (EBV nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA1]) and tetanus-specific IgG antibodies were measured in 70 paired maternal and cord blood samples using a Luminex- bead-based assay. A high proportion (63%) of the infants were exposed to malaria in …