Virulence and transmission success of the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 10200302.
- Also identified by PMC identifier 16372.
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Abstract
Virulence of Plasmodium falciparum is associated with the expression of variant surface antigens designated PfEMP1 (P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1) that are encoded by a family of var genes. Data presented show that the transmission stages of P. falciparum also express PfEMP1 variants. Virulence in this host-parasite system can be considered a variable outcome of optimizing the production of sexual transmission stages from the population of disease-inducing asexual stages. Immunity to PfEMP1 will contribute to the regulation of this trade-off by controlling the parasite population with potential to produce mature transmission stages.
Medical subject headings
- Malaria, Falciparum
- Plasmodium falciparum