# name
A novel Plasmodium falciparum rhoptry associated adhesin
                mediates erythrocyte invasion through the sialic-acid dependent
                pathway

# metadata.dc.description.abstract[].value
Erythrocyte invasion by Plasmodium falciparum merozoites is
                central to blood-stage infection and malaria pathogenesis. This
                intricate process is coordinated by multiple parasite adhesins
                that bind erythrocyte receptors and mediate invasion through
                several alternate pathways. P. falciparum expresses 2700 genes
                during the blood-stages, of which the identity and function of
                many remains unknown. Here, we have identified and characterized
                a novel P. falciparum rhoptry associated adhesin (PfRA) that
                mediates erythrocyte invasion through the sialic-acid dependent
                pathway. PfRA appears to play a significant functional role as
                it is conserved across different Plasmodium species. It is
                localized in the rhoptries and further translocated to the
                merozoite surface. Both native and recombinant PfRA specifically
                bound erythrocytes in a sialic-acid dependent, chymotrypsin and
                trypsin resistant manner, which was abrogated by PfRA antibodies
                confirming a role in erythrocyte invasion. PfRA antibodies
                inhibited erythrocyte invasion and in combination with
                antibodies against other parasite ligands produced an additive
                inhibitory effect, thus validating its important role in
                erythrocyte invasion. We have thus identified a novel P.
                falciparum adhesin that binds with a sialic acid containing
                erythrocyte receptor. Our observations substantiate the strategy
                to block P. falciparum erythrocyte invasion by simultaneously
                targeting multiple conserved merozoite antigens involved in
                alternate invasion pathways.

# metadata.dc.relation.isformatof[].value
Reproducció del document publicat a:
                http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep29185

# metadata.dc.source[].value
Articles publicats en revistes (ISGlobal)

# metadata.dc.title[].value
A novel Plasmodium falciparum rhoptry associated adhesin
                mediates erythrocyte invasion through the sialic-acid dependent
                pathway