Exoerythrocytic development of Plasmodium gallinaceum sporozoites in a chicken fibroblast cell line and inhibition of the cell invasion by specific anti-sporozoite monoclonal antibodies.

ABSTRACT

Cultivation of the Plasmodium gallinaceum exoerythrocytic forms from sporozoites was attempted in three different cell lines HEPG2-A16 (from a human hepatoma), VERO (monkey kidney epithelial cells) and SL-29 (chicken embryo fibroblast cells). The sporozoites invaded all three cells types but their development into exoerythrocytic forms occurred only in the SL-29 cells. In the presence of specific monoclonal antibodies against the major circumsporozoite protein, there were varying degrees of inhibition of parasite invasion of the SL-29 cells. Of seven monoclonal antibodies tested, two completely inhibited cell invasion at high concentrations and caused intense inhibition at concentrations as low as 2.5 micrograms/ml, four caused intense inhibition at these various concentrations, and one had no effect on sporozoite invasion.