Tumor necrosis factor does not induce Plasmodium falciparum crisis forms

Abstract

Mouse and rabbit sera from animals treated with Mycobacterium bovis BCG and lipopolysaccharide contained tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and induced malaria parasite crisis forms. However, neither purified mouse- nor recombinant DNA-produced human TNF induced crisis forms in cultured Plasmodium falciparum. Furthermore, rabbit polyclonal and mouse monoclonal antibodies against human TNF did not block the parasite inhibitory activity of human malaria crisis form factor serum from Sudan.