TRANSMISSION BLOCKADE OF PLASMODIUM-FALCIPARUM MALARIA BY ANTI-PFS230-SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES IS ISOTYPE DEPENDENT

By use of the parental hybridoma cell. line 63F2A2 that produces specific antibodies of immunoglobulin isotype G1 (IgG1; 63F2A2.1) against Pfs230, we attempted to enrich for the synthesis of the downstream switch variant IgG2b and IgG2a monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) of the hybridoma cell line (63F2A2.2b and 63F2A2.2a; respectively). The parental IgG1 did not reduce the Plasmodium falciparum transmission in a bioassay irrespective of the presence of complement. MAbs 63F2A2.2b and 63F2A2.2a were effective in reducing the infectivity of P. falciparum parasites to Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes in membrane-feeding experiments. A transmission reduction of 91% was accomplished by the 63F2A2.2b switch variant, and a reduction of greater than 99% was accomplished by the 63F2A2.2a switch variant, but only in the presence of active human complement. Subsequently, the transmission-reducing effect of MAb 63F2A2.2b or 63F2A2.2a was confirmed in vitro by the rapid lysis of newly formed macrogametes or zygotes in the presence of active complement. MAb 63F2A2.1 did not lyse the newly formed macrogametes or zygotes irrespective of the presence of complement.