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Plasmodium berghei: long lasting immunity induced by a permanent attenuated mutant
T Miyagami1, I Igarshi, M Suzuki
1Department of Parasitology, Gunma University School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan.
Zentralblatt Fur Bakteriologie, Mikrobiologie, Und Hygiene. Series A, Medical Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, Virology, Parasitology
|May 1, 1987
Summary
Immunizing mice with a permanently attenuated Plasmodium parasite (XAT) induced long-lasting immunity against lethal malaria strains. This malaria vaccine candidate demonstrated cross-immunity and did not cause immune suppression.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
Background:
- Malaria remains a significant global health challenge, necessitating the development of effective vaccines.
- Plasmodium berghei is a rodent malaria parasite widely used as a model to study malaria pathogenesis and vaccine efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a permanently attenuated Plasmodium berghei strain (XAT) in mice.
- To assess the duration and breadth of immunity induced by XAT against homologous and heterologous Plasmodium challenge.
Main Methods:
- Balb/c mice were immunized with live XAT parasites.
- Immune mice were subsequently challenged with virulent Plasmodium berghei NK65 and other Plasmodium species.
- Parasitemia levels, duration of immunity, and cross-immunity were assessed.
- Humoral immunity (IgG, IgM) and cellular immune responses (spleen cell proliferation) were evaluated.
Main Results:
- Immunization with XAT induced a self-resolving parasitemia and conferred long-lasting immunity (up to one year) against lethal Plasmodium berghei NK65 challenge.
- Significant cross-immunity was observed against Plasmodium berghei ANKA, Plasmodium yoelii 17XL, Plasmodium vinckei, and Plasmodium chabaudi.
- Stage-specific immunity was noted following challenge with Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis sporozoites.
- Neither IgG/IgM titers nor spleen cell responsiveness correlated directly with the observed protective immunity.
Conclusions:
- The permanently attenuated Plasmodium parasite XAT is a promising candidate for a malaria vaccine, inducing robust and long-lasting protective immunity.
- XAT vaccination confers broad cross-immunity against various Plasmodium species, suggesting a versatile immune response.
- The study highlights that protective immunity against malaria may not solely depend on antibody titers or general mitogenic responses of spleen cells.