Erythrocyte binding ligands in malaria parasites: intracellular trafficking and parasite virulence

Richard Culleton; Osamu Kaneko

doi:10.1016/j.actatropica.2009.10.025

Erythrocyte binding ligands in malaria parasites: intracellular trafficking and parasite virulence

Acta Trop. 2010 Jun;114(3):131-7. doi: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2009.10.025. Epub 2009 Nov 11.

Authors

Richard Culleton¹, Osamu Kaneko

Affiliation

¹ Department of Protozoology, Institute of Tropical Medicine and the Global Center of Excellence Program, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan.

PMID: 19913491
DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2009.10.025

Abstract

The intracellular trafficking of an Erythrocyte Binding Like (EBL) ligand has recently been shown to dramatically affect the multiplication rate and virulence of the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium yoelii yoelii. In this review, we describe the current understanding of the role of EBL and other erythrocyte binding ligands in erythrocyte invasion, and discuss the mechanisms by which they may control multiplication rates and virulence in malaria parasites.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Antigens, Protozoan / physiology*
Erythrocytes / parasitology*
Humans
Models, Molecular
Molecular Sequence Data
Plasmodium / growth & development
Plasmodium / pathogenicity*
Protein Structure, Tertiary
Protein Transport
Protozoan Proteins / physiology*
Receptors, Cell Surface / physiology*
Virulence
Virulence Factors / physiology*

Substances

Antigens, Protozoan
Duffy antigen binding protein, Plasmodium
Protozoan Proteins
Receptors, Cell Surface
Virulence Factors