title: Plasmodium falciparum STEVOR proteins impact erythrocyte mechanical properties.
abstract: Infection of erythrocytes with the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, results in dramatic changes to the host cell structure and morphology. The predicted functional localization of the STEVOR proteins at the erythrocyte surface suggests that they may be involved in parasite-induced modifications of the erythrocyte membrane during parasite development. To address the biologic function of STEVOR proteins, we subjected a panel of stevor transgenic parasites and wild-type clonal lines exhibiting different expression levels for stevor genes to functional assays exploring parasite-induced modifications of the erythrocyte membrane. Using this approach, we show that stevor expression impacts deformability of the erythrocyte membrane. This process may facilitate parasite sequestration in deep tissue vasculature.
authors: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10021, USA.
authors: Sohini
authors: S
authors: Sanyal
authors: Stéphane
authors: S
authors: Egée
authors: Guillaume
authors: G
authors: Bouyer
authors: Sylvie
authors: S
authors: Perrot
authors: Innocent
authors: I
authors: Safeukui
authors: Emmanuel
authors: E
authors: Bischoff
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Buffet
authors: Kirk W
authors: KW
authors: Deitsch
authors: Odile
authors: O
authors: Mercereau-Puijalon
authors: Peter H
authors: PH
authors: David
authors: Thomas J
authors: TJ
authors: Templeton
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Lavazec
mesh_terms: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000469:parasitology*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C474556:STEVOR antigen, Plasmodium falciparum