title: [Production of circulating interferon in human malaria].
abstract: The presence of an interferon-like activity inhibiting the cytopathic effect of vesicular stomatitis virus was studied in 216 sera from 100 patients with P. falciparum (67 cases), P. vivax (16), P. ovale (13), P. malariae (4) infections. 87% of patients were found positive on one or more occasions. The prevalence of interferon-like activity was similar in all 4 species. Titers varied between 20 to 320 U/ml and were found to be higher in Europeans experiencing a primary attack of malaria (mean = 72 U/ml) than in subjects from hyperendemic areas of  West Africa (mean = 37 U/ml). In patients followed-up either a delayed positivity or an increase of interferon-like activity was found in 60% of cases. High titers were observed up to the 3rd month. The viral inhibitory activity met all criteria for defining interferon. Seroneutralization assays using anti-alpha and anti-gamma interferon antibodies showed in 5 patients that human malaria was associated with the presence of a gamma interferon.
mesh_terms: D000354:Africa, Western; D000818:Animals; D005060:Europe / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000097:blood*; D008288:Malaria / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000276:immunology; D010965:Plasmodium malariae / Q000276:immunology; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007372:Interferons
vernacular_title: Production d'interféron circulant au cours du paludisme humain.