Malaria Antigen Shedding in the Breast Milk of Mothers From a Region With Endemic Malaria

Abstract

Dr Verhasselt had full access to all of the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Drs Verhasselt and Egwang contributed equally as senior authors. Concept and design: Verhasselt, Egwang. Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: All authors.

Bayesian spatio-temporal modelling and mapping of malaria and anaemia among children between 0 and 59 months in Nigeria

“…While anaemia decreases significantly. This might be due to the stimulation of antimalarial immune defenses by malaria antigen in breast milk which reduces malaria risk in infants attributable to breastfeeding [ 30 ]. As children are weaned, they are vulnerable to malaria as they have lost maternal immunity and are yet to develop self-immunity against infection [ 31 ].…”

Mice Pups Breastfed by Foster Mothers Whose Breast Milk Contains Plasmodium falciparum Recombinant SE36 Antigen Develop Specific Antibodies

“…12 This concept is supported by a recent report of Plasmodium falciparum blood stage antigens in human breast milk. 13 In this report, we present preliminary evidence that intranasal administration of recombinant SE36 antigen to lactating mice results in the appearance of the antigen in breast milk and that pups borne of immunologically naïve mice not exposed to SE36 develop IgG anti-SE36 antibodies following breastfeeding by SE36-exposed foster mothers. SE36 is a promising malaria vaccine candidate derived from P. falciparum serine rich antigen 5.…”

“…Malaria blood-stage antigens have been demonstrated in human breast milk, but the mechanism of antigen transport remains unknown. 13 The public health significance of malaria antigen shedding in breast milk remains to be investigated in prospective studies of mother-infant pairs. Vaccination against killer diseases by infants nursing on lactating mothers shedding vaccines in milk would be transformative for infant vaccinology if validated and would boost breastfeeding promotions.…”

Microbial antigen in human milk: a natural vaccine?

“…Neonates mount an efficient cytotoxic immune response to a viral dose 10,000 times lower than an adult, while higher doses are unable to activate an appropriate immune response 9 . The levels of P. falciparum antigen histidine-rich protein 2 and hepatitis B e antigen are 10-100-fold lower, and hepatitis B surface antigens are 30,000 times lower in human milk than in serum 7 , 10 . These low levels may be an important cue for the developing immune system of the neonate.…”

“…More recently, a study demonstrated development of mucosal immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in newborns breastfed by SARS-CoV-2 infected mothers, without any sign of infection in the offspring 5 . Parasitic antigens such as from Schistosoma mansoni 6 and Plasmodium falciparum 7 are also present in breast milk of infected women. While currently there is no data from birth cohorts on the possible immunization of children exposed to parasite antigen through breast milk, one study demonstrated better defence against S. mansoni in young adult mice when they had been nursed by S. mansoni -infected mothers 8 .…”