title: Structure and organization of genes for sporozoite surface antigens.
abstract: The major surface antigen (circumsporozoite-protein) of the sporozoite stage of Plasmodium knowlesi has been cloned and characterized. The gene is notable for the presence of a 36 base pair unit repeated in tandem 12 times. These repeats may function at the DNA level in regulating gene expression and at the protein level in providing multiple copies of a single epitope (repitope) as part of a protein designed to evade and decoy the immune system.
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005796:Genes; D006801:Humans; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004247:DNA