title: Malaria Parasite Proteins and Their Role in Alteration of the Structure and Function of Red Blood Cells.
abstract: Malaria, caused by Plasmodium spp., continues to be a major threat to human health and a significant cause of socioeconomic hardship in many countries. Almost half of the world's population live in malaria-endemic regions and many of them suffer one or more, often life-threatening episodes of malaria every year, the symptoms of which are attributable to replication of the parasite within red blood cells (RBCs). In the case of Plasmodium falciparum, the species responsible for most malaria-related deaths, parasite replication within RBCs is accompanied by striking alterations to the morphological, biochemical and biophysical properties of the host cell that are essential for the parasites' survival. To achieve this, the parasite establishes a unique and extensive protein export network in the infected RBC, dedicating at least 6% of its genome to the process. Understanding the full gamut of proteins involved in this process and the mechanisms by which P. falciparum alters the structure and function of RBCs is important both for a more complete understanding of the pathogenesis of malaria and for development of new therapeutic strategies to prevent or treat this devastating disease. This review focuses on what is currently known about exported parasite proteins, their interactions with the RBC and their likely pathophysiological consequences.
authors.affiliation: Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicholas I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Proellocks
authors.affiliation: Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Ross L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Coppel
authors.affiliation: New York Blood Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Narla
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mohandas
authors.affiliation: Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Brian M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Cooke
mesh_terms: D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000502:physiology; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D021381:Protein Transport; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D015800:Protozoan Proteins
keywords: Cell adhesion; Cell mechanics; Exported proteins; Malaria; Membrane skeleton; Plasmodium falciparum; Red blood cell