Functional analysis of Plasmodium falciparum merozoite antigens: implications for erythrocyte invasion and vaccine development.
Malaria is a major human health problem and is responsible for over 2 million deaths per year. It is caused by a number of species of the genus Plasmodium, and Plasmodium falciparum is the causative agent of the most lethal form. Consequently, the development of a vaccine against this parasite is a priority. There are a number of stages of the parasite life cycle that are being targeted for the development of vaccines. Important candidate antigens include proteins on the surface of the asexual merozoite stage, the form that invades the host erythrocyte. The development of methods to manipulate the genome of Plasmodium species has enabled the construction of gain-of-function and loss-of-function mutants and provided new strategies to analyse the role of parasite proteins. This has provided new information on the role of merozoite antigens in erythrocyte invasion and also allows new approaches to address their potential as vaccine candidates.
Cowman
Alan F
AF
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria 3050, Australia. cowman@wehi.edu.au
Baldi
Deborah L
DL
Duraisingh
Manoj
M
Healer
Julie
J
Mills
Kerry E
KE
O'Donnell
Rebecca A
RA
Thompson
Jennifer
J
Triglia
Tony
T
Wickham
Mark E
ME
Crabb
Brendan S
BS
D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D017780:Malaria Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000517:prevention & control; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D017385:Sequence Homology
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D017780:Malaria Vaccines; D015800:Protozoan Proteins