| 摘要 |
<p>The present invention relates to a substantially pure soluble antigen derived from the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum in its schizont stage capable of stimulating the production of cytokines, and analogues thereof. The antigen has endotoxin-like properties and stimulates the production of monokines and/or lymphokines, moreover, the antigen is capable of eliciting antibodies wich neutralize the production of cytokines. Furthermore, the present invention relates to antibodies which are reactive with the antigen or an analogue thereof and a method of determining the presence of a Plasmodium species molecule in a sample, the sample being incubated with e.g. an antibody which is reactive with the antigen or an analogue thereof, coupled to a solid support. The present invention further relates to the use of said antigen or an analogue thereof for the manufacture of a medicament for the prophylaxis or treatment of diseases caused by Plasmodium species, and to a vaccine for immunizing an animal, including a human being, against diseases caused by a plasmodial parasite, the vaccine comprising an immunologically effective and physiologically acceptable amount of said antigen or an analogue thereof. The antigen is an amphiphilic glycoprotein which in a crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) has a position in the η-globulin fraction and which has fractions of a molecular mass of 77, 61 and 59 kD when tested by SDS-PAGE analysis.</p> |
