Host-parasite interactions and immunity to irradiated sporozoites

We compare and contrast the results of immunizing mice with irradiated sporozoites of Plasmodium berghei and Plasmodium yoelii. Host genetic control of protective immunity is different in the two rodent malarias. Few mouse strains are strongly protected by P. yoelii sporozoites, while all are protected by P. berghei sporozoite immunization. The role of CD8+ T cells in the protective immune response to each of these malarias varies with the strain of mouse. Moreover, a single strain will use a CD8+ T cell-dependent mechanism against one malaria, and a CD8+ independent mechanism against the other. Thus, each host-parasite pairing in these rodent malarias engenders a unique set of immune responses. Such variety should be expected in the immune response to the human malarias, and may complicate the development of universally applicable vaccines.