ANALYSIS OF ROLES OF NATURAL-KILLER-CELLS IN DEFENSE AGAINST PLASMODIUM-CHABAUDI IN MICE

Mice that have recovered a primary infection with Plasmodium chabaudi have been shown to resist a secondary infection. IN the present study the authors investigated how natural killer (NK) cells were involved i n this resistance. Spleen cells from P. chabaudi-primed C57BL/6 mice c ould transfer protection against P. chabaudi infection into naive syng eneic mice, but spleen cells from unprimed mice could not. T-enriched cells purified from primed spleen cells could also transfer such prote ction. Transfer of NK cells from primed spleen cells failed to protect against challenge infection. However, depletion of NK cells in host m ice by injection of an anti-NK.1.1 monoclonal antibody resulted in hig her mortality relative to controls. The possible protective roles of N K cells in P. chabaudi infection are discussed.