The protective effect of CD40 ligand–CD40 signalling is limited during the early phase of Plasmodium infection

γδ T cells are essential for eliminating Plasmodium berghei XAT. Because administration of the agonistic anti‐CD40 antibody can induce elimination of P. berghei XAT parasites in γδ T cell‐deficient mice, we considered that γδ T cells might activate dendritic cells via CD40 signalling during infection. Here we report that administration of the anti‐CD40 antibody to γδ T cell‐deficient mice 3–10 days post‐ P. berghei XAT infection could eliminate the parasites. Our data suggest that dendritic cell activation via γδ T cells expressing CD40 ligand is critical during the early phase of infection.