title: Caught in action: mechanistic insights into antibody-mediated inhibition of Plasmodium merozoite invasion.
abstract: Apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) plays an essential role in host cell invasion by apicomplexan parasites. A recent study by Collins et al. investigated the mode of action of an anti-AMA1 invasion-inhibitory antibody. They demonstrated the interference of this antibody with invasion complex formation, which was dependent in turn on a single conserved tyrosine residue in AMA1. Their findings reveal important new insights into parasite biology and are highly relevant for rational vaccine design.
authors.affiliation: Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Moritz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Treeck
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tamborrini
authors.forename: Claudia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Daubenberger
authors.forename: Tim W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Gilberger
authors.forename: Till S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Voss
mesh_terms: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D017780:Malaria Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D052940:Merozoites / Q000276:immunology; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000276:immunology*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D017780:Malaria Vaccines; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C090077:apical membrane antigen I, Plasmodium; D014443:Tyrosine