title: Cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of a surface antigen of Plasmodium falciparum merozoites.
abstract: A complementary DNA library was constructed from mRNA purified from asexual blood forms of Plasmodium falciparum. Among the members of this library we have identified a plasmid (pMC31-1) coding for a polypeptide exposed at the surface of merozoites, the invasive stage of the asexual cycle. This plasmid was identified by direct expression using both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies specific for a schizont polypeptide of 200 kd which has been shown to be processed to an 83-kd polypeptide expressed at the surface of merozoites. The cDNA portion of the pMC31-1 plasmid hybridizes with DNA from three isolates of P. falciparum. Antisera raised against extracts of Escherichia coli harbouring pMC31-1 react with surface and internal structures of schizonts and with the surface of merozoites from all the isolates of P. falciparum examined. These results suggest that plasmid pMC31-1 encodes an antigen of value for the development of a vaccine against malaria.
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004247:DNA