Immunofluorescent Studies of Plasmodium berghei: A “Natural” Antibody in White Mice

Abstract

Summary Pooled or individual sera from a proportion of normal mice from a standard laboratory colony were shown to contain an antibody which reacted specifically with Plasmodium berghei antigen, as demonstrated by the indirect and direct fluorescent antibody methods. This antibody could be demonstrated in vitro when reacted with P. berghei antigen, then treated with FITC conjugated antiserum, or as in vivo bound antibody on antigen derived from P. berghei-infected mice. The source of antigen giving rise to this “natural” antibody has not been identified.