Plasmodium chabaudi malaria: protective immunization with surface membranes of infected erythrocytes.

Plasmodium chabaudi-susceptible NMRI and B10.A mice were vaccinated with host cell plasma membranes isolated from P. chabaudi-infected erythrocytes. Most of the mice were protected from the lethal consequences of challenge with the homologous parasite, although protection was unassociated with a reduction in the course or peak of parasitemia. Vaccination also induced the production of antibodies against Pc90, which is the immunodominant protein expressed by parasites in host cell plasma membranes.