Full Title:
Measuring the impact of naturally acquired immunity on the expression of Plasmodium falciparum variant surface antigens
Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes express on their surface, members of a diverse family of parasite molecules called PfEMP1 that are encoded by a family of 60 var genes in every parasite genome. These molecules interact with the surface of host cells and mediate parasite sequestration in tissues including the brain, an important step in the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria. Although naturally acquired antibodies to PfEMP1 provide specific protection against the molecular variants that they recognise, PfEMP1 are often considered too diverse to be vaccine candidates.
