PTRAMP, CSS and Ripr form a conserved complex required for merozoite invasion of Plasmodium species into erythrocytes

BA Seager; PS Lim; X Xiao; KH Lai; LB Feufack-Donfack; S Dass; NC Jung; A Abraham; MJ Grigg; NM Anstey; T William; J Sattabongkot; A Leis; RJ Longley; MT Duraisingh; J Popovici; DW Wilson; AF Cowman; SW Scally

Journal article

PTRAMP, CSS and Ripr form a conserved complex required for merozoite invasion of Plasmodium species into erythrocytes

BA Seager, PS Lim, X Xiao, KH Lai, LB Feufack-Donfack, S Dass, NC Jung, A Abraham, MJ Grigg, NM Anstey, T William, J Sattabongkot, A Leis, RJ Longley, MT Duraisingh, J Popovici, DW Wilson, AF Cowman, SW Scally

Nature Communications | Springer Science and Business Media LLC | Published : 2026

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-68486-1

Abstract

Invasion of erythrocytes by members of the Plasmodium genus is an essential step of the parasite lifecycle, orchestrated by numerous host-parasite interactions. In P. falciparum Rh5, with PfCyRPA, PfRipr, PfCSS, and PfPTRAMP, forms the essential PCRCR complex which binds basigin on the erythrocyte surface. Rh5 is restricted to P. falciparum and its close relatives; however, PTRAMP, CSS and Ripr orthologs are present across the Plasmodium genus. We investigated PTRAMP, CSS and Ripr orthologs from three species to elucidate common features of the complex. Like P. falciparum, PTRAMP and CSS form a disulfide-linked heterodimer in both P. vivax and P. knowlesi with all three species forming a com..

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