The protective effect of CD40 ligand-CD40 signalling is limited during the early phase of Plasmodium infection

gamma delta T cells are essential for eliminating Plasmodium berghei XAT. Because administration of the agonistic anti-CD40 antibody can induce elimination of P. berghei XAT parasites in gamma delta T cell-deficient mice, we considered that gamma delta T cells might activate dendritic cells via CD40 signalling during infection. Here we report that administration of the anti-CD40 antibody to gamma delta T cell-deficient mice 3-10 days post-P. berghei XAT infection could eliminate the parasites. Our data suggest that dendritic cell activation via gamma delta T cells expressing CD40 ligand is critical during the early phase of infection. (C) 2014 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.