The protozoan that causes malaria is an intracellular parasite of red blood cells (RBCs). An adaptive immune response to this parasite is problematic because the parasite damages leukocytes along with RBCs. red blood cells do not produce MHC and, therefore, do not display the fact that they have been infected by presenting antigen. RBCs never enter lymphoid tissue. complement cannot effectively destroy RBCs. RBCs normally produce cytokines necessary for adaptive immune response, which this infection prevents.