Monoclonal antibodies that inhibit Plasmodium falciparum invasion in vitro recognise the first growth factor-like domain of merozoite surface protein-1.

A major protein found on the surface of the invasive stage of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP1), has been proposed as a vaccine candidate. Antibodies which recognise a single fragment of this molecule (MSP1(19)), composed of 2 regions related to epidermal growth factor (EGF), also inhibit parasite growth in vitro. It is shown by direct expression of the individual EGF-like domains in Escherichia coli, that the first domain is the target of growth-inhibitory antibodies. A single amino acid difference influences the binding of some antibodies to this domain.