alpha-Difluoromethylornithine induces protective immunity in mice inoculated with Plasmodium berghei sporozoites.

Mice inoculated weekly with Plasmodium berghei sporozoites while under treatment with alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase, developed protective immunity against subsequent challenge with this parasite. The percentage of mice protected was similar whether DFMO alone (55%) or DFMO + chloroquine (65%) was used. With chloroquine alone, only 12% of mice were protected.