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Parasite‐specific IgM plays a significant role in the protective immune response to asexual erythrocytic stage Plasmodium chabaudi AS infection *
Author(s) -
Couper K. N.,
Phillips R. S.,
Brombacher F.,
Alexander J.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
parasite immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1365-3024
pISSN - 0141-9838
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3024.2005.00760.x
Subject(s) - plasmodium chabaudi , biology , immunology , immune system , immunoglobulin m , immunoglobulin d , antibody , immunity , antiserum , virology , immunoglobulin g , b cell , malaria , parasitemia , plasmodium falciparum
SUMMARY A comparison of Plasmodium chabaudi AS infection in BALB/c and BALB/c IgM‐deficient mice demonstrated a protective role for IgM during infection. IgM −/– mice, unlike µMT mice, display competent B cell humoral immune responses. Increased susceptibility of IgM −/– mice was demonstrated by increased mortality, an advanced ascending infection and higher peak parasitaemia, as well as enhanced anaemia and weight loss compared with wild‐type mice. The recrudescent parasitaemias were also higher in the IgM −/– mice. Early specific IgM production in P. chabaudi‐ infected wild‐type mice was followed by IgG1 and IgG2a production, while IgG1 and IgG2a production in IgM −/– mice was preceded by specific IgD production. No protective role for natural IgM against P. chabaudi AS infection was detected as passive transfer of naïve WT serum into IgM −/– mice did not alter the disease outcome or reduce parasite numbers. Passive transfer of WT antiserum, containing predominantly specific IgM, into IgM −/– mice delayed the ascending parasitaemia and reduced mortality. Similarly, coating parasitized red blood cells with WT antiserum, but not IgM −/– antisera, prior to infection also slightly delayed the ascending acute parasitaemia. Specific IgM therefore plays an important role in the limitation of parasite replication during asexual erythrocytic P. chabaudi AS infection.