Induction of sporozoite-specific memory cells in mice immunized with a recombinant Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite protein.

A recombinant Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite (CS) protein (rPvCS-1) has been investigated as a possible malaria sporozoite vaccine candidate. Experiments were carried out to determine whether sporozoite-specific memory cells develop in Swiss Webster mice immunized with rPvCS-1. Challenge of rPvCS-1-immunized mice with P. vivax sporozoites resulted in a 100-fold increase in the mean serum anti-sporozoite antibody titer. The presence of parasite-specific T helper cells was demonstrated using an in vitro assay. Anti-CS antibodies were detected in the culture supernatants of spleen cells of rPvCS-1-immunized mice following in vitro challenge with P. vivax sporozoite extract. Immune spleen cells depleted of T cells did not produce antibodies when challenged with sporozoite extract in vitro. In conclusion, immunization of mice with the rPvCS-1 protein induced memory T cells which recognized native CS antigen and functioned as T helper cells in the production of anti-sporozoite antibodies both in vivo and in vitro.