Plasmodium chabaudi adami: interferon-gamma but not IL-2 is essential for the expression of cell-mediated immunity against blood-stage parasites in mice.

Cell-mediated immunity (CMI) may be important in immunity against blood-stage malaria. Accordingly, we examined the role of type 1 cytokines in the resolution of Plasmodium chabaudi adami malaria in mice genetically modified to have type 1 cytokine gene defects. Parasitemia was prolonged in double knockout (IL-2(-/-), IFNgamma(-/-)) mice compared to control mice.