IMMUNITY TO PLASMODIUM BERGHEI YOELII IN MICE .1. COURSE OF INFECTION IN T-CELL AND B-CELL DEFICIENT MICE

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  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 117  (5) , 1999-2005
Abstract
The course of infection with nonlethal [NL] P. berghei yoelii strain 17X was examined in BALB/c mice which were deficient in T [thymus-derived] cells or B [bone marrow-derived] cells. Markedly increased parasitemia and mortality were observed in athymic (nude) mice backcrossed on a BALB/c background (T cell deficient) compared to similar mice grafted with neonatal BALB/c thymus, and were also observed in BALB/c mice suppressed from birth with goat antiserum to mouse .mu.-chain (B cell deficient) compared to age- and sex-matched BALB/c controls. These results establish the requirement for the presence of both T cells and B cells for effective resistance to an intercurrent infection with 17XNL P. berghei yoelii in adult BALB/c mice. Mechanisms explaining the requirement for T cells and B cells were discussed. The model of .mu. suppression was shown to be a valuable tool for evaluation of the cellular basis of immunity to an infectious disease.