Sporozoite vaccine induces genetically restricted T cell elimination of malaria from hepatocytes

SL Hoffman, D Isenbarger, GW Long, M Sedegah… - Science, 1989 - science.org
SL Hoffman, D Isenbarger, GW Long, M Sedegah, A Szarfman, L Waters, MR Hollingdale…
Science, 1989science.org
The target of the CD8+ T cell-dependent immunity that protects mice immunized with
irradiation-attenuated malaria sporozoites has not been established. Immune BALB/c mice
were shown to develop malaria-specific, CD8+ T cell-dependent inflammatory infiltrates in
their livers after challenge with Plasmodium berghei sporozoites. Spleen cells from immune
BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice eliminated hepatocytes infected with the liver stage of P. berghei
in vitro. The activity against infected hepatocytes is not inhibited by antibodies to interferon-γ …
The target of the CD8+ T cell-dependent immunity that protects mice immunized with irradiation-attenuated malaria sporozoites has not been established. Immune BALB/c mice were shown to develop malaria-specific, CD8+ T cell-dependent inflammatory infiltrates in their livers after challenge with Plasmodium berghei sporozoites. Spleen cells from immune BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice eliminated hepatocytes infected with the liver stage of P. berghei in vitro. The activity against infected hepatocytes is not inhibited by antibodies to interferon-γ and is not present in culture supernatants. It is genetically restricted, an indication that malaria antigens on the hepatocyte surface are recognized by immune T effector cells. Subunit vaccine development will require identification of the antigens recognized by these T cells and a method of immunization that induces such immunity.
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