Protection against malaria is conferred by passive transferring rabbit F(ab)(2)' antibody fragments, induced by Plasmodium falciparum MSP-1 site-directed designed pseudopeptide-BSA conjugates assessed in a rodent model.

F(ab)(2)'-immunoglobulin (Ig) fragments induced by site-directed designed immunogens are emerging as novel tools of potential utility in the treatment of clinical episodes of transmissible diseases such as malaria. Immunogens based on reduced amide pseudopeptides based on site-directed molecular modifications represent structural probes that could be considered as novel vaccine candidates, as we have previously demonstrated. We have obtained F(ab)(2)'-Ig rabbit antibodies induced against the N-terminal sequence of the native Merozoite Surface Protein-1 (MSP-1) of Plasmodium falciparum and a set of five MSP-1-derived reduced amide pseudopeptides.