title: Identification of a conserved Plasmodium falciparum var gene implicated in malaria in pregnancy.
abstract: The Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) family is a highly polymorphic class of variant surface antigens encoded by var genes that play an important role in malaria pathogenesis. This report describes the unexpected finding that 1 of the var genes encoding a PfEMP1 variant that binds to the host receptor chondroitin sulfate A (CSA) and is implicated in malaria in pregnancy is well conserved among P. falciparum isolates worldwide. The N-terminal domains of this PfEMP1 variant are especially highly conserved, whereas the functional CSA binding domain is more variable. Analysis of var gene expression in placental parasites from primigravid women in Malawi did not support a role for this conserved gene in placental infection but identified a second commonly occurring var gene. These results indicate the need for reevaluation of previous assumptions of a minimal overlap between var gene repertoires from different parasite isolates.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cell, Animal, and Population Biology, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, United Kingdom. Alex.Rowe@ed.ac.uk
authors.forename: J Alexandra
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rowe
authors.forename: Sue A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kyes
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Rogerson
authors.forename: Hamza A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Babiker
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000378:metabolism; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000469:parasitology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010920:Placenta / Q000469:parasitology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000469:parasitology*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C085731:erythrocyte membrane protein 1, Plasmodium falciparum; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates