Fig. 5

Kinetics of RTS,S vaccine-induced functional antibodies over time. A subset of children in the RTS,S vaccine group from the Manhiça study site was followed up over 5 years post-vaccination. Serum samples were collected at baseline (month 0, M0), 30 days after the third vaccination (month 3, M3) and later time points (M8.5, M21, M33, M45 and M63). Samples were tested for A FcγRIIa-binding and B FcγRIII-binding to CSP, C opsonic phagocytis by neutrophils (n=33) and D antibody-dependent respiratory burst (ADRB) in neutrophils and E opsonic phagocytosis by THP-1 cells. Antibodies were also tested for IgG subclasses to CSP, including F IgG1, G IgG2, H IgG3 and I IgG4. Data from immunologic assays were analysed in generalised linear mixed model (GLMM). The dashed lines represent the predicted means, the shaded area represents the 95% CIs and T1/2 (in months) indicates the estimated half-lives from the generalised linear mixed model. Half-life represents the time for magnitude to reduce by 50% from the M3 time-point. Given the very low magnitude of IgG4, it was not possible to estimate a half-life for this parameter. Further details are provided in the Additional file 1: Table S1 and S2