Introduction: Pre-erythrocytic antigens from Plasmodium berghei (Circumsporozoite protein [CS] and Thrombospondin Related Adhesive Protein [TRAP]) were used to immunise Balb/c mice. DNA vaccines consisted of either the whole antigen, or a defined T cell epitope included in a string of P. falciparum epitopes. Two recombinant Modified Vaccinia Ankara expressing the same antigens (CSP and TRAP) were also tested, alone or in combination with DNA.Materials and Methods: Groups of mice were immunised by intramuscular injection of DNA or MVA. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses were assessed by standard 5 1 Cr release assays. Mice were challenged by the injection of 2000 P. berghei sporozoites into the tail vein and parasitaemia was assessed by examination of blood smears at days 7 and 10 following challenge.Results: All three approaches (DNA whole antigen, DNA epitope string, MVA whole antigen), used alone or in combination, resulted in the induction of specific CTL responses to the P. berghei antigens. One of the protocols tested resulted in protection from infectious challenge; DNA followed by MVA.Conclusion: Both DNA and MVA induce specific CTL responses against pre-erythrocytic P. berghei antigens in mice. However only the combination of priming with DNA followed by boosting with MVA was able to protect the mice from P. berghei challenge.