Molecular analysis of erythrocyte invasion in Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Senegal.

ABSTRACT: The human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, utilizes multiple ligand-receptor interactions for the invasion of human erythrocytes. Members of the reticulocyte binding protein homolog (PfRh) family have been shown to be critical for directing parasites to alternative erythrocyte receptors that define invasion pathways. Recent studies have identified gene amplification, sequence polymorphism, and variant expression of PfRh paralogs as mechanisms underlying discrimination between pathways for invasion. In this study, we find considerable heterogeneity in the invasion profiles of clonal, uncultured P. falciparum parasite isolates from a low-transmission area in Senegal. Molecular analyses revealed minimal variation in protein expression levels of the PfRh ligands, PfRh1, PfRh2a, and PfR

SUBMITTER: Jennings CV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1932937 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature