title: Human immunization with attenuated sporozoites.
abstract: Studies conducted between 1971 and 1975 showed that attenuated sporozoites can induce protection against human malaria. Three volunteers were protected against challenge with either a homologous or heterologous strain of Plasmodium falciparum after being exposed to a total of 440-987 X-irradiated mosquitos on 6-8 occasions over a period of 10-38 weeks. Protection lasted for at least 8 weeks, but not 16 weeks, after the last immunization with irradiated sporozoites. Another 7 volunteers were not protected against challenge with a homologous strain after exposure to a total of fewer than 200 irradiated mosquitos, infected with either P. falciparum or P. vivax, on 2-4 occasions over a period of 4-17 weeks. These studies provide an encouraging basis for pursuing the development of a sporozoite vaccine against human malaria.
authors.affiliation: Army Malaria Research Unit, University of Sydney.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Rieckmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000276:immunology*; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000276:immunology*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D013997:Time Factors; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated