Laboratory Evaluation of Pregnancy Malaria Vaccine Candidates/In-vitro Testing of Pregnancy Malaria Vaccine Candidates

Background: \- Malaria is a disease that affects many people in African countries. It is caused by germs that are spread by mosquito bites. It can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated right away. Children younger than 5 and pregnant women are most at risk to get malaria. Researchers want to create a vaccine that will prevent malaria infection during pregnancy. Objectives: \- To create a vaccine that will prevent malaria infection during pregnancy. To assess possible vaccines using in-vitro tests with parasites taken from pregnant women. Eligibility: \- Pregnant women ages 15-25 Design: * The study site is an area in Mali, West Africa. * Participants: * Will have blood drawn. * Will give consent for the blood sample to be used for future research. * May have a physical exam. * Participants who have malaria or anemia will get treatment.

Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum continues to be a global problem with devastating consequences. Pregnancy malaria is associated with low birth weight (LBW), maternal anemia, and gestational hypertension; and both inflammation and the fetal response to infection may contribute to these poor outcomes. Pregnancy malaria (PM) is caused by P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes that bind to the placental receptor chondroitin sulfate A (CSA) and sequester in the placenta, where they cause disease and death for the mother and her offspring. Women become resistant to pregnancy malaria as they acquire antibodies that target surface proteins of placental parasites. Malaria vaccine candidates targeting the parasite s liver stage or blood stage may not protect pregnant women and their unborn children. The primary hypothesis in this study is that antibodies raised in animals against recombinant pregnancy malaria vaccine candidates will have a similar functional activity as naturally acquired antibodies. Up to 2492 malaria-infected pregnant women will be recruited into a cross sectional study that will be conducted in Ouelessebougou and neighboring districts, Mali. Women presenting for antenatal visit at the health centers in Ouelessebougou District will be enrolled. Samples collected from the women will be used in in-vitro assays to assess the functional activity of immunoglobulin G (IgG) raised against pregnancy malaria vaccine candidates as the primary outcome of this study. For our secondary outcomes, we will examine functional activity of naturally acquired antibodies specific to the vaccine candidates. Functional activity by IgG to vaccine candidates will be compared to the activity obtained with control proteins using appropriate statistical methods, including adjustment for possible confounders such as parasite density in the assay, to determine if the candidates elicit the type of immune response observed in naturally exposed population.