Human T-cell responses to blood stage antigens in Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

Immunity to malaria involves both cell-mediated and humoral immune mechanisms. T cells are essential both in regulating antibody formation and in inducing antibody-independent immunity. Thus, acquisition and maintenance of protective immunity to malaria is T-cell dependent. Although relatively neglected until recently basic knowledge of T-cell subsets and cytokine production determining the course of a malaria infection is advancing rapidly at present. In this paper we will review recent findings contributing to the understanding of immune mechanisms against the asexual blood stages of human P. falciparum malaria.