Glutamate Rich Protein 1 (ERICH1)

The glutamate-rich protein (GLURP), being an antigen associated with mature schizont- infected erythrocytes, was therefore the object of the present investigation. GLURP-specific human immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies, from pooled IgG of healthy Liberian adults who were clinically immune to malaria, were purified by affinity chromatography on columns containing R0 (N-terminal nonrepetitive region of GLURP) or R2 (C-terminal repetitive region of GLURP) recombinant protein or synthetic peptides as ligands. Analysis of the pattern of reactivity of highly purified anti-GLURP antibodies led to the definition of at least four B-cell epitopes. In contrast, when allowed to cooperate with monocytes, all anti-GLURP IgG preparations mediated a strong monocyte-dependent parasite growth inhibition in a dose-dependent manner.