IMMUNOBLOT CHARACTERIZATION OF IGG, IGM AND IGE ANTIBODIES ELICITED DURING THE COURSE OF FATAL AND NONFATAL INFECTIONS OF PLASMODIUM-BERGHEI IN DBA 2 AND BALB/C MICE/

When infected with the CRS line of Plasmodium berghei ANKA, DBA/2 mice died of a fulminating infection around day 20 post-infection whereas Balb/c mice had parasitaemic crises around day 15 then low or subpaten t parasitaemias until approximately day 73, when sterile immunity is b elieved to have supervened. Immunoblots for parasite-specific immunogl obulins G, M and E were made from the sera taken during the course of infection in each mouse strain. Although both strains elicited antibod ies to a 128-kDa antigen by day 8, this was solely of the IgG class in the DBA/2 but of both IgG and IgM in the Balb/c. Crisis and subpatenc y were associated with the appearance of IgG and IgM antibodies to 74- and 80-kDa antigens. The most vigorous immune response was observed i n sera from the Balb/c mice on day 73, with antibodies to many antigen s of 19-180 kDa; IgE antibody (to antigens of 38 and 45 kDa) was then evident for the first time.