Investigations of cellular immune mechanisms to malaria during pregnancy in a malaria holoendemic region of Western Kenya

Abstract

Bibliography: leaves 132-155.Women during pregnancy in holoendemic regions of malaria are at an increased risk for peripheral malaria infections with potential for developing placental malaria. The immunological basis of protection and pathogenesis are incompletely understood. This thesis investigates both processes. Research on maternal placental immune responses necessitates the collection of reliable placental intervillous blood; an appropriate method for placental blood collection was therefore first determined. Five documented methods of collection (perfusion, incision, biopsy, tissue grinding and prick) were compared for foetal blood contamination and mononuclear cell profiles using flow cytometry. Placental blood collection by prick was established as the most appropriate method and was subsequently used for further immunological investigations