ABSTRACT
The great debate continues! Today, it is clear that antibodies (Abs) play a role in protective immunity against malarial parasites, but really how important are they? Originally, immunity to malaria was thought to be mediated solely by phagocytic cells, but at the end of the 1930s, serum containing antimalarial Abs was found to transfer protection to naive animals. 1,2 Since then, Abs have been considered to be the primary immunologic defense of the host against the parasite. Recent studies on monokines and T cell-derived lymphokines, however, have led some investigators to suggest that we may need to reevaluate our thinking. It, therefore, seems timely to review information on Abs and their significance in malarial immunity.
