Malaria vaccine antigen(s): detergent solubilization, partial isolation, and recovery of immunoprotective activity.

Plasmodium berghei-infected erythrocytes were solubilized with the nonionic detergent n-octyl glucoside and membrane-containing P. berghei fragments with either n-octyl glucoside or the ionic detergent sodium deoxycholate. Unsolubilized material was separated by centrifugation, and the detergent was removed from the respective supernatants by gel filtration. Reaggregated components in the respective void volume eluates acted as a specific vaccine in recipient mice, resulting in a dose-related accelerated elimination of infection and increased survival after challenge with the homologous parasite.