Circumsporozoite protein of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium ovale identified with monoclonal antibodies.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) have been produced against Plasmodium ovale sporozoites and used to characterize the circumsporozoite (CS) protein. Six MAbs were produced, and all were species specific. By using Western blot (immunoblot) analysis, three polypeptides were detected: a predominant 51,000-Mr polypeptide and two presumed precursor 57,000- and 67,000-Mr molecules. The presence of a repeating epitope in the CS protein of P. ovale was demonstrated by using one of the MAbs in a single-antibody two-site enzyme immunoassay. Three MAbs recognized epitopes on the surfaces of sporozoites; the presence of at least one other epitope within the CS protein, but not on the surfaces of P. ovale sporozoites, was also demonstrated.