Regulation of antigenic variation in Plasmodium falciparum: censoring freedom of expression?
Plasmodium falciparum employs a strategy of clonal antigenic variation to evade the host immune response during the intraerythrocytic stage of its life cycle. The major variant parasite molecule is the P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein (PfEMP)1, which is encoded by the var multigene family. The parasite switches between different PfEMP1 molecules through regulation of var transcription. Recent studies have shed considerable light on this process, but much remains unknown. However, striking parallels between transcriptional control of var and genes in other organisms provide direction for future studies.
Duffy
Michael F
MF
Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Parade, Melbourne, Victoria 3050, Australia. mduffy@unimelb.edu.au
Reeder
John C
JC
Brown
Graham V
GV
D000818:Animals; D000940:Antigenic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D020868:Gene Silencing; D017125:Genes, Protozoan; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C085731:erythrocyte membrane protein 1, Plasmodium falciparum