Long-Term Persistence of Sterile Immunity in a Volunteer Immunized with X-Irradiated Plasmodium falciparum Sporozoites

R Edelman, SL Hoffman, JR Davis… - Journal of Infectious …, 1993 - academic.oup.com
R Edelman, SL Hoffman, JR Davis, M Beier, MB Sztein, G Losonsky, DA Herrington…
Journal of Infectious Diseases, 1993academic.oup.com
Three volunteers were immunized by repeated exposure to the bites of Plasmodium
falciparum-infected, X-irradiated mosquitoes to characterize immunologic responses and
duration of protective immunity. A primary series of immunizations had been shown
previously to induce sterile immunity in these volunteers against sporozoite-induced P.
falciparum malaria. In the current study, antibodies to sporozoites circulated at high levels for
at least 9–12 months after the volunteers were administered booster bites from X-irradiated …
Abstract
Three volunteers were immunized by repeated exposure to the bites of Plasmodium falciparum- infected, X-irradiated mosquitoes to characterize immunologic responses and duration of protective immunity. A primary series of immunizations had been shown previously to induce sterile immunity in these volunteers against sporozoite-induced P. falciparum malaria. In the current study, antibodies to sporozoites circulated at high levels for at least 9–12 months after the volunteers were administered booster bites from X-irradiated infective mosquitoes. One volunteer challenged a second time with P. falciparum 9 months after his last immunization was again shown to be protected, whereas all 5 control subjects developed patent infections. These results set a new standard for persistence of sterile immunity against experimental P. falciparum infection.
Oxford University Press