Cross-reactive surface epitopes on chondroitin sulfate A-adherent Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes are associated with transcription of var2csa.
Malaria in pregnancy is associated with placental accumulation of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes (IE) that adhere to chondroitin sulfate A (CSA). Adhesion is mediated by P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1), a variant parasite protein expressed on the surface of IE and encoded by var genes. Rabbit antiserum was generated against the CSA-adherent P. falciparum line CS2, in which the dominant var transcribed is var2csa, a relatively conserved var gene that has been associated with CSA adhesion. Anti-CS2 recognized genetically distinct CSA-adherent P. falciparum lines but not CD36-adherent parent lines. Reactivity with anti-CS2 correlated with the level of adhesion to CSA. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting according to binding of anti-CS2 showed reactivity was associated with CSA adhesion and transcription of var2csa. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that var2csa encodes a PfEMP1 expressed on the surface of IE, which mediates adhesion to CSA and is relatively conserved between genetically distinct strains of P. falciparum.
Elliott
Salenna R
SR
Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050 Australia. salenna@unimelb.edu.au
Duffy
Michael F
MF
Byrne
Timothy J
TJ
Beeson
James G
JG
Mann
Emily J
EJ
Wilson
Danny W
DW
Rogerson
Stephen J
SJ
Brown
Graham V
GV
D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016466:CHO Cells; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000378:metabolism*; D006224:Cricetinae; D003429:Cross Reactions; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D000939:Epitopes; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C085731:erythrocyte membrane protein 1, Plasmodium falciparum; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates