Studies on the immunology of human malaria. I. Preliminary characterization of antigens in plasmodium falciparum infections

Extracts of erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium falciparum have been prepared from densely infected human placental tissue. Gel-filtration of such extracts on Sephadex G-200 readily separated two types of antigen, designated α and β, respectively. In addition, soluble antigens were detected in the sera of several children and parturient mothers immediately following attacks of malaria. These soluble antigens were found to be immunochemically similar to the α group of placental antigens. Combined histochemical and immunochemical tests indicated that the α antigens were probably proteins.