title: Pre-erythrocytic antigens of Plasmodium falciparum: from rags to riches?
abstract: A growing number of Plasmodium genomes have joined the sequencing treadmill, and the genome of Plasmodium falciparum has recently been published. Most malaria vaccinologists will soon be confronted by a bewildering array of new potential antigens from the recently completed genome of this parasite. However, for those aiming to target the pre-erythrocytic stages of the hepatic parasite, the wait might be long. In the absence of readily available materials and specific reagents, the selection of pre-erythrocytic antigens from raw sequence data is likely to prove difficult. Here, current knowledge of pre-erythrocytic antigens is updated in the light of recent results, and the post-genomic prospects of completing the antigenic repertoire of these immunologically important and intriguing stages is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Parasitologie Biomédicale, Institut Pasteur, 25 Rue du Dr Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France.
authors.forename: Anne Charlotte
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Grüner
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Snounou
authors.forename: Karima
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brahimi
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Letourneur
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rénia
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Druilhe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D018503:Genome, Protozoan; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan