title: Identification of multiple chondroitin sulfate A (CSA)-binding domains in the var2CSA gene transcribed in CSA-binding parasites.
abstract: Malaria in pregnancy is a serious complication associated with parasitized erythrocyte (PE) sequestration in the placenta. Recent work suggests that var genes could play an important role in PE binding to chondroitin sulfate A (CSA), a primary placental adherence receptor. Here, we confirm that var2CSA is transcriptionally up-regulated in CSA-binding parasites and define CSA-binding domains in var2CSA. The identification of multiple binding domains in var2CSA strengthens the evidence for their involvement in malaria during pregnancy and may have applications for the development of a vaccine against malaria in pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Biologie des Interactions Hôte-Parasite, URA 2581, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France. bgamain@pasteur.fr
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gamain
authors.forename: Adama R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Trimnell
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scheidig
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scherf
authors.forename: Louis H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Joseph D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016466:CHO Cells; D002417:Cattle; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000378:metabolism*; D006224:Cricetinae; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000378:metabolism*; D018272:Porins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D018272:Porins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C512602:SfpA protein, Yersinia enterocolitica; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates