Comparative studies on the immunogenicity of infective and attenuated sporozoites of Plasmodium berghei

Abstract

Experiments to characterize the immune response induced by the inoculation of infective sporozoites were undertaken in an experimental rodent malaria system. Since earlier work had shown that the blood phase of the infection suppresses the humoral anti-sporozoite response, the development of parasitaemia was completely prevented by treating the animals with either chloroquine or primaquine shortly after sporozoite inoculation. The results obtained by immunization with infective Plasmodium berghei sporozoites were compared with those obtained using γ-irradiated sporozoites, by measuring the antibody levels of the immunized mice and determining their degree of protection against challenge.