Transmission-blocking immunity to Plasmodium falciparum in malaria-immune individuals is associated with antibodies to the gamete surface protein Pfs230

Malaria-immune human sera were tested for their ability to affect the infec tivity of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes to Anopheles stephensi mosquito es. Transmission-reducing effects of the sera were associated with the pres ence of antibodies to the gamete surface protein, Pfs230. Enhancement of tr ansmission, manifest as elevated numbers of oocysts relative to controls, w as observed fora number of sera, but was not found to be associated with an tibodies against Pfs230. These results confirm that Pfs230 is a possible ca ndidate for inclusion in a transmission-blocking malaria vaccine.