The kinetics and transmission-blocking dynamics of P. falciparum sexual-stage antibody responses in a six-year cohort of Ugandan children and adults

The kinetics and transmission-blocking dynamics of P. falciparum sexual-stage antibody responses in a six-year cohort of Ugandan children and adults | Research Square Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article The kinetics and transmission-blocking dynamics of P. falciparum sexual-stage antibody responses in a six-year cohort of Ugandan children and adults Teun Bousema, Sara Lynn Blanken, Patience Nayabare, Jonathan Briese, and 21 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8733488/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 13 Aug, 2026 Read the published version in Nature Communications → Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Individuals naturally infected with Plasmodium can develop antibodies against the parasite’s sexual stages that may inhibit transmission when ingested during a mosquito’s blood meal. This study aims to unravel the immune signature and longitudinal dynamics of naturally occurring transmission reducing activity (TRA). Using data from 611 standard membrane feeding assays and up to 18 assessments per individual, we show that TRA occurs naturally and may persist over time in a minority of naturally exposed individuals. We also show that history of asymptomatic parasite exposure is positively related to TRA and to antibodies against P. falciparum sexual-stage antigens. Antibodies against Pfs48/45 and Pfs230 appeared relatively short-lived and predicted high-level TRA. Finally, we find that naturally acquired antibodies against thirteen other sexual-stage antigens (including Pfs47, Pf77, PfHAP2 and PfMDV1) were associated with high-level TRA. Together, our analysis shows that naturally acquired sexual-stage immune responses are dynamic and can inhibit onward parasite transmission. Biological sciences/Microbiology/Parasitology/Parasite host response Biological sciences/Immunology/Adaptive immunity/Humoral immunity/Antibodies Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 13 Aug, 2026 Read the published version in Nature Communications → Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information

Related documents

• Immunogenicity Study of Antibody Persistence and Booster Effect of PENTAXIM™ at 18 Months in Healthy Argentinean Infants#226340
• Monoclonal antibody potentiating gonadotropin activity in vitro and in vivo in male and female rats and in ewes#304527
• Effects of Male-specific Antibodies on Sex Ratio#858442
• Antibody-Drug Conjugates and Peptide-Drug Conjugates: Current Understandings and Future Perspectives.#433837
• Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Metastatic Prostate Cancer That Has Not Responded to Hormone Therapy#847369