Studies of murine malaria antigens using monoclonal antibodies. Production, selection, and characterization of antibodies.

A panel of ten monoclonal antibodies made against Plasmodium chabaudi and Plasmodium yoelii infected mouse erythrocytes were used for characterization of antigens present in murine malaria. Screening of the antibodies in ELISA with different fractions of infected erythrocytes revealed both species-specific and fraction-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), but also MAbs cross-reacting between the species. Two MAbs bound normal erythrocyte components. Subcellular localization of the target antigens was studied by immunofluorescence and their molecular identity by immunoblotting after SDS-PAGE. Of the MAbs to P. yoelii, one reacted with a cytoplasmic granule component of 137 k and two others reacted with vacuole-associated antigens of 26 k and 25/70/73 k, respectively. The latter antibodies cross-reacted with P. chabaudi antigens. Of the MAbs to P. chabaudi, all were species specific, one reacting with parasite surface antigens of 79 and 250 k and two with a vacuole-associated antigen of 70 k.