Distinct interethnic differences in immunoglobulin G class/subclass and immunoglobulin M antibody responses to malaria antigens but not in immunoglobulin G responses to nonmalarial antigens in sympatric tribes living in West Africa

Abstract

Abstract The well-established relative resistance to malaria observed in the Fulani as

compared with other sympatric tribes in West Africa has been attributed to their higher levels

of serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies to malarial antigens. In this study, we confirm and

extend the previous findings by analyses of the levels of IgM, IgG and IgG subclasses of anti-

malarial antibodies in asymptomatic individuals of different sympatric tribes in Burkina Faso

(Fulani/Mossi) and Mali (Fulani/Dogon). The Fulani showed significantly higher median ...