Epitopes for modified band 3 monoclonal antibody 1C4 are not exposed on the malaria-infected red blood cell surface

Abstract

Red blood cells (RBC) infected with Plasmodium falciparum asexual trophozoites and stage IB–V gametocytes are sequestered to the vital organs during infection. In vitro models of infected RBC adherence reveal that the mature asexual parasites and early stage gametocytes (stages I–IIA) bind to platelet glycoprotein CD36 under static assay conditions [1], [2]. At least one parasite-derived surface protein, variant surface antigen PfEMP1, functions as a ligand for this stage-specific binding [3], [4]. A second adhesion ligand, parasite-induced modified erythrocyte anion transporter protein band 3, has also been implicated in mediating adherence of trophozoite- [5] and all stages of gametocyte-i..