Figure 1.

Parasite-specific antibodies reduce parasitemia and infected RBC number. Schematic representation of the effect of immune sera without (A) or with (B) parasite-specific antibodies on parasitemia and pRBC number. During plasmodium infection, a naturally acquired humoral immunity develops and gives rise to antimalarial antibodies with the ability to significantly reduce parasitemia and infected RBC number (B). These antibodies act by recognizing specific parasite structures released upon infected RBC rupture and start an immune response that involves the role of phagocytes. This mechanism does not imply infected RBC clearance but rather the prevention of parasite transition to a new generation of yet uninfected RBCs. Overall this process leads to a drastic reduction of infected RBC number, with beneficial effect in infected individuals.