[Use a of DNA probe to detect cellular immunity against intracellular parasitism]

By using a specific, repetitive DNA probe, we have been able to detect picograms of P. berghei DNA. With this probe we have determined that: a) P. berghei, inoculated into Norway Brown rats, reaches its peak of proliferation in the liver 44 h after infection; b) gamma interferon inhibits in a dose-dependent fashion the development of liver exoerythrocytic forms (EEF) in vivo and in vitro, and; c) endogenous gamma interferon inhibits the development of EEF in hosts immunized with irradiated sporozoites. Related with and derived from these findings, we have found that, in order to obtain an effective immunity against malaria in experimental animal models, effector mechanisms mediated by T cells are required. This is substantiated by the following facts: a) immune hosts inoculated with monoclonal antibodies against gamma interferon reversed their immunity against a sporozoite challenge; b) This immunity was also reversed when the animals were depleted from their CD8 positive cytotoxic T cells. Therefore, sterile immunity against this parasite requires not only the presence of antibodies but also the inhibition of the EEF by gamma interferon with participation of CD8 positive T cells.