Protective antibodies against erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum in experimental infection of the squirrel monkey, Saimiri sciureus.

Serum and ascitic fluid from squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) inoculated with erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum were collected at different periods of the infection. Protection against P. falciparum was achieved by passive transfer of the sera or fluid recovered from animals after spontaneous or drug-induced cure. Purified immunoglobulins from the ascitic fluid also conferred protection. In contrast, protective antibodies directed against erythrocytic stages of P. falciparum could never be demonstrated during the acute phase of infection in spite of the high titres of malarial antibodies detected by immunofluorescence. The comparative immunochemical analysis of antigens recognized by protective and non-protective antibodies revealed quantitative differences which may be of use for the identification of antigens inducing protection.