CTL Epitope on the Circumsporozoite Protein of P. yoelii

摘要

A vaccine model exists for protection against the preerythrocytic stages ofmalaria. Humans and rodents can be protected against sporozoite infection by immunization with radiation-attenuated sporozoites. There is evidence from different animal models that both antibodies and T cells may be involved in this immune response. However, when BALB/c mice are immunized with Plasmodium yoelii sporozoites, it appears that antibody alone plays a minor protective role, while CD8+T cells have critically important anti-sporozoite functions. The parasite antigens recognized by these protective CD8+ T cells have not been identified.