Characterization and tissue-specific expression patterns of the Plasmodium chabaudi cir multigene family.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Variant antigens expressed on the surface of parasitized red blood cells (pRBCs) are important virulence factors of malaria parasites. Whereas Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane proteins 1 (PfEMP1) are responsible for sequestration of mature parasites, little is known about putative ligands mediating cytoadherence to host receptors in other Plasmodium species. Candidates include members of the pir superfamily found in the human parasite Plasmodium vivax (vir), in the simian pathogen Plasmodium knowlesi (kir) and in the rodent malarias Plasmodium yoelii (yir), Plasmodium berghei (bir) and Plasmodium chabaudi (cir). The aim of this study was to reveal a potential involvement of cir genes in P. chabaudi sequestration.

Methods

Subfamilies of cir genes were ide

SUBMITTER: Ebbinghaus P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3189184 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature