title: The conserved clag multigene family of malaria parasites: essential roles in host-pathogen interaction.
abstract: The clag multigene family is strictly conserved in malaria parasites, but absent from neighboring genera of protozoan parasites. Early research pointed to roles in merozoite invasion and infected cell cytoadherence, but more recent studies have implicated channel-mediated uptake of ions and nutrients from host plasma. Here, we review the current understanding of this gene family, which appears to be central to host-parasite interactions and an important therapeutic target.
authors.affiliation: The Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852.
authors.forename: Ankit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: The Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852.
authors.forename: Girija
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thiruvengadam
authors.affiliation: The Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852.
authors.forename: Sanjay A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Desai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000469:parasitology*; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000235:genetics*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D015800:Protozoan Proteins
keywords: antimalarial drug development; clag multigene family; cytoadherence; epigenetics; gene regulation; host-pathogen interactions; malaria parasites; merozoite invasion; nutrient channels