Journal article

Association of antibodies to Plasmodium falciparum reticulocyte binding protein homolog 5 with protection from clinical malaria

Chris YH Chiu, Julie Healer, Jennifer K Thompson, Lin Chen, Aiki Kaul, Laxman Savergave, Arjun Raghuwanshi, Connie SN Li Wai Suen, Peter M Siba, Louis Schofield, Ivo Mueller, Alan F Cowman, Diana S Hansen

FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY | FRONTIERS RESEARCH FOUNDATION | Published : 2014

Abstract

Emerging evidence suggests that antibodies against merozoite proteins involved in Plasmodium falciparum invasion into the red blood cell (RBC) play an important role in clinical immunity to malaria. The protein family of parasite antigens known as P. falciparum reticulocyte binding protein-like homolog (PfRh) is required for RBC invasion. PfRh5 is the only member within the PfRh family that cannot be genetically deleted, suggesting it plays an essential role in parasite survival. This antigen forms a complex with the cysteine-rich P. falciparum Rh5 interacting protein (PfRipr), on the merozoite surface during RBC invasion. The PfRh5 ectodomain sequence and a C-terminal fragment of PfRipr wer..

View full abstract