Prevention of cerebral malaria by adoptive transfer of malaria-specific cultured T cells into mice infected with Plasmodium berghei

Murine T cell populations specific for Plasmodium berghei parasites were generated in vitro from BALB/c immune lymph node cells. The malaria-specific T lymphocytes were shown: a) to proliferate specifically in vitro in response to stimulation with P. berghei-infected red blood cells; b) to exhibit the Thy-1+, Lyt-1+2- cell surface phenotype; c) to provide specific helper activity for an in vitro anti-hapten (TNP) plaque-forming cell antibody response; and d) to protect P. berghei-infected mice from early mortality due to cerebral malaria.