Antibodies to polymorphic antigens expressed during the parasites erythrocytic 
stages are important mediators of protective immunity against P. falciparum 
malaria. Therefore, polymorphic blood stage antigens like MSP3, EBA-175 and 
GLURP and variant surface antigens PfEMP1 and RIFIN are considered vaccine 
candidates. However, to what extent these antibodies to blood stage antigens are 
acquired during naive individuals' first infections has not been studied in 
depth. Using plasma samples collected from controlled experimental P. falciparum 
infections we show that antibodies against variant surface antigens, PfEMP1 and 
RIFIN as well as MSP3 and GLURP, are acquired during a single short low density 
P. falciparum infection in non-immune individuals including strain transcendent 
PfEMP1 immune responses. These data indicate that the immunogenicity of the 
variant surface antigens is similar to the less diverse merozoite antigens. The 
acquisition of a broad and strain transcendent repertoire of PfEMP1 antibodies 
may reflect a parasite strategy of expressing most or all PfEMP1 variants at 
liver release optimizing the likelihood of survival and establishment of chronic 
infections in the new host.