Plasmodium berghei-Infected Erythrocyte as Immunogen for Polyclonal Antibody Production in Mice

Abstract

Production of an effective vaccine for malaria has been difficult because of the polyphasic and polymorphic characteristics of the Plasmodium parasite. Protein changes on the surface of malaria-infected erythrocytes occur in response to the parasitic infection. These surface proteins may serve as antigenic determinants to prime the antibody response of the host, hence, this study of preparing Plasmodium JergAer-infected erythrocytes as immunogen for polyclonal antibody production. In this study, cryopreserved P. berghei samples were thawed, infected in BALB/c mice, and passaged to revitalize its viability and pathogenecity. Total number of mice infected was 24. Blood from transfected mice were collected; formed elements of the blood containing infected erythrocytes were packed and prepared as an immunogen for polyclonal antibody production. Two BALB/c mice were immunized, the first shot was given on Day 1, and two booster shots on Day 3 and on Day 28 followed. Sera from immunized mice were then collected for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results from ELISA and subsequent statistical analysis showed that antibodies were present in the mouse sera, but identification of these antibodies as specific against the modified proteins on the malaria-infected erythrocytes requires further study.