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Genetic control of resistance to murine malaria
Author(s) -
Stevenson Mary,
Lemieux Suzanne,
Skamene Emil
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
journal of cellular biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.028
H-Index - 165
eISSN - 1097-4644
pISSN - 0730-2312
DOI - 10.1002/jcb.240240108
Subject(s) - plasmodium chabaudi , parasitemia , biology , inbred strain , gene , strain (injury) , malaria , genetics , virology , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , plasmodium falciparum , anatomy
Strain variation in the level of resistance to malaria was investigated in inbred mice after infection with Plasmodium chabaudi. Following intraperitoneal infection with the typing dose of parasitized erythrocytes, mice of 11 inbred strains could be separated using survival time as the criterium into resistant and susceptible groups. Genetic analysis of F 1 hybrid and backcross progeny derived from one of the most resistant (B10.A) and from the most susceptible (A/J) strains as parents suggested that host resistance in this strain combination was genetically controlled by a dominant, non‐H‐2‐linked, autosomal gene or closely linked genes. Analysis of the mechanisms of resistance to P chabaudi showed (1) phenotypic expression of the resistance gene was apparent within 6 days of infection as a significant difference between resistant and susceptible mice in the level of parasitemia; (2) the level of host NK cell activity was not related to the level of host resistance to malaria; (3) compared with susceptible A/J mice, resistant B1O.A hosts had an augmented erythropoietic response during the course of malaria as well as during phenylhydrazine‐induced anemia and (4) treatment with BCG or P acnes resulted in an equal degree of protection, measured by parasitemia and survival, in both resistant and susceptible mice.