Novel serologic biomarkers provide accurate estimates of recent Plasmodium falciparum exposure for individuals and communities

Widely available accurate estimates of malaria exposure are essential for targeting and evaluation of public health interventions. Antibody responses to the malaria parasite can provide information on past exposure, but to date, most such measurements have been based on responses to a small number of parasite proteins chosen by convenience rather than utility and have not provided quantitative information on an individual's exposure. Our results generated by screening hundreds of responses in children with known exposure histories indicate that responses to a few appropriately selected antigens can provide such information. This new approach can be transformed into high-throughput, low-cost, field-based assays useful for surveillance of malaria and has the potential to be translated into similar tools for other infectious diseases.