WEHI PhD Completion Seminar hosted by Professor Ivo Mueller

Hanqing Zhao
Joint PhD Student – Mueller Laboratory, Infection and Global Health division, WEHI Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China

Identification and validation of B cell epitopes within serological markers for Plasmodium vivax detection and surveillance in malaria

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Serology is a promising approach for Plasmodium vivax detection and surveillance. A previously established panel of eight serological antigens showed high sensitivity and specificity for detecting recent infections in endemic regions. Here, we predicted B cell epitopes based on antigen sequences and structures, then prioritized sero-positive candidates via antibody responses from global endemic regions. Using longitudinal cohort data, we identified a combination comprising six epitopes and three antigens, achieving robust discrimination of recent infection (AUC = 0.905). We further applied this strategy on the China-Myanmar border regions and identified epitope candidates with potential utility for detecting symptomatic or asymptomatic infections.

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