IMMUNIZATION WITH THE MALARIA HEAT-SHOCK LIKE PROTEIN HSP70-1 ENHANCES TRANSMISSION TO THE MOSQUITO

Mosquitoes fed on mice infected with Plasmodium yoelii after an immuni zation with the i72 recombinant form of the heat shock protein hsp70-1 developed significantly more oocysts than mosquitoes fed on controls. This effect was due to a marked increase in the relative numbers of g ametocytes during the early stages of infection. A comparison of brood -induced and sporozoite-initiated infection showed that these gametocy tes were derived from merozoites released from the liver. The stimulus for increased gametocyte production is unknown but is likely to be li nked with antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and associated cyto kine responses.