Premunition

Premunition, also known as infection-immunity,[1] is a host response that protects against high numbers of parasite and illness without eliminating the infection.

[3] For malaria, premunition is maintained by repeated antigen exposure from infective bites.

[3] In the case of malaria, the sporozoite and merozoite stages of Plasmodium elicit the antibody response which leads to premunition.

[5] Premunition has not been well-studied, and although it likely occurs broadly, it is mainly emphasized for its role in malaria, tuberculosis, syphilis and relapsing fever.

[7] Premunity is progressive development of immunity in individuals exposed to an infective agent,[8] mainly belonging to protozoa and Rickettsia, but not in viruses.