Virulence and the immune response in malaria.
Many factors determine the virulence of a malaria infection. These include host innate resistance mechanisms and, with Plasmodium falciparum, the ability to cytoadhere to endothelial cells, form rosettes, and induce release of cytokines. The effect on virulence of acquired immune responses can be determined by Class I and Class II MHC-antigens; levels of immunological responsiveness may be determined too in other ways. The structure of parasite surface antigens and their great diversity modulate the immune response and influence parasite survival and hence virulence, and transmission to the vector.
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Department of Medical Parasitology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, England.
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002648:Child; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000635:transmission; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D012397:Rosette Formation; D014774:Virulence
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D006680:HLA Antigens