title: Investigation of host factors possibly enhancing the emergence of the chondroitin sulfate A-binding phenotype in Plasmodium falciparum.
abstract: In malaria endemic areas, regardless of immunity acquired during lifelong exposure to malaria, pregnant women become susceptible to Plasmodium falciparum infections. Malaria during pregnancy is associated with a massive sequestration of infected erythrocytes in the placenta and the emergence of a unique parasite-derived adhesive molecule (encoded by var2CSA) that binds to chondroitin sulfate A (CSA). How P. falciparum achieves the timely expression of the CSA ligand in pregnant women remains puzzling. We investigated whether host serum-specific factors present only during pregnancy may induce var2CSA expression. Our panel of experiments did not reveal significant changes in var2CSA levels and CSA-binding capacity.
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie des Interactions Hôte-Parasite, CNRS, URA 2581, 75724 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Marta C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.forename: Yvon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sterkers
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gamain
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scherf
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; C512601:VAR2CSA protein, Plasmodium falciparum; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates