Abstract

Bloodstage malaria parasites are antigenically complex, but individual antigens can be identified and analysed using monoclonal antibodies. Two monoclonal antibodies that recognize a 235 000 molecular mass Plasmodium yoelii rhoptry protein provide some protection when injected into mice against a challenge infection. The purified rhoptry protein also provides protective immunity against P. yoelii YM when used to vaccinate mice and fulminating infections are converted into self-limiting, reticulocyte-restricted infections. Another monoclonal antibody immunoprecipitates a 230 000 molecular mass protein and a series of proteolytic processing fragments. At least one of these processing fragments, probably a 90 000 molecular mass species, is located on the merozoite surface. Mice immunized with the purified protein were protected against challenge infection with P. yoelii YM. This antigen may provide protection by inducing a cell-mediated immune response. A monoclonal antibody raised against P. falciparum schizonts reacts with a 195 000 molecular mass protein which is synthesized in schizonts and subsequently cleaved. Fragments of the 195 000 molecular mass protein are expressed as major antigens on the merozoite surface. The 195 000 molecular mass P. falciparum protein and the 230 000 molecular mass P. yoelii protein belong to a class of malaria parasite antigens which probably is important in the induction of a protective immune response in the host.