[Characterization of a surface antigen of Plasmodium falciparum merozoite with monoclonal antibody].

The monoclonal antibody (McAb) designated as C6 against erythrocytic stage of Plasmodium falciparum Fcc7801/HN showed significant growth inhibition of P. falciparum in vitro, having cross immunofluorescence reaction with P. falciparum Fcc-1/HN, Fcc7802/HN, Fcc8703/JS and P. berghei, P. cynomolgi. McAb C6 bound to the antigen distributed evenly over the entire surface of merozoites of P. falciparum, as demonstrated by immunoelectron microscopy. The McAb C6 also recognized a single protein of 71 kDa of P. falciparum by Western blotting. This antigen might be a candidate of malaria vaccine.