Consideration of some aspects of human malaria.

TLDR: The opinion is expressed that the specificity of immune processes and the reproductive capacity of pre-erythrocytic schizonts combine to indicate that the density of viable sporozoites inoculated may be a factor of importance in shaping the pattern of malaria in both the individual and the community.

Abstract: 1. 1. Recent advances in knowledge concerning plasmodial biology and acquired immunity in malaria are examined, and their possible effects upon the epidemiology of malaria considered. 2. 2. The opinion is expressed that the specificity of immune processes and the reproductive capacity of pre-erythrocytic schizonts combine to indicate that the density of viable sporozoites inoculated may be a factor of importance in shaping the pattern of malaria in both the individual and the community. 3. 3. Strain specificity of immunity is discussed and attention drawn to the need for careful control of the size of challenging infections in the course of studies designed to elucidate intra-species differences in plasmodial antigenicity.