Pre-erythrocytic antigens of Plasmodium falciparum: from rags to riches?
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.
Grüner
Anne Charlotte
AC
Unité de Parasitologie Biomédicale, Institut Pasteur, 25 Rue du Dr Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France.
Snounou
Georges
G
Brahimi
Karima
K
Letourneur
Franck
F
Rénia
Laurent
L
Druilhe
Pierre
P
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*
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan