Serotypes of Plasmodium falciparum defined by immune serum inhibition of in vitro growth.

In vitro growth inhibition assays were used to detect antigenic differences among geographically distinct strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Owl monkeys were immunized against the Camp and FCR-3/FMG strains of P. falciparum by infection, drug treatment, and rechallenge with homologous parasites. Camp-immune monkey serum was used to inhibit the in vitro growth of eight strains of P. falciparum. Inhibition was maximum for the homologous Camp strain (an average of 62% inhibition by 100 ml/litre Camp-immune serum). Four other strains were inhibited to a lesser degree, and three strains (FCR-3/FMG, FVO, and Smith) were not significantly inhibited by Camp-immune serum at concentrations as high as 400 ml/litre. FCR-3/FMG-immune serum at a concentration of 50 ml/litre caused significant inhibition of the FCR-3/FMG strain, but not the Camp strain. Thus Camp and FCR-3/FMG strains appear to bear distinct antigenic determinants recognized by the homologous, but not the heterologous, antiserum. Inhibition of in vitro growth by immune serum may be useful for serotyping P. falciparum and may have application in the selection of strains for inclusion in a malaria vaccine.