Title |
Using the PfEMP1 Head Structure Binding Motif to Deal a Blow at Severe Malaria
|
---|---|
Published in |
PLOS ONE, February 2014
|
DOI | 10.1371/journal.pone.0088420 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Manuel E. Patarroyo, Martha Patricia Alba, Hernando Curtidor, Magnolia Vanegas, Hannia Almonacid, Manuel A. Patarroyo |
Abstract |
Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) malaria causes 200 million cases worldwide, 8 million being severe and complicated leading to ∼1 million deaths and ∼100,000 abortions annually. Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) has been implicated in cytoadherence and infected erythrocyte rosette formation, associated with cerebral malaria; chondroitin sulphate-A attachment and infected erythrocyte sequestration related to pregnancy-associated malaria and other severe forms of disease. An endothelial cell high activity binding peptide is described in several of this ∼300 kDa hypervariable protein's domains displaying a conserved motif (GACxPxRRxxLC); it established H-bonds with other binding peptides to mediate red blood cell group A and chondroitin sulphate attachment. This motif (when properly modified) induced PfEMP1-specific strain-transcending, fully-protective immunity for the first time in experimental challenge in Aotus monkeys, opening the way forward for a long sought-after vaccine against severe malaria. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 1 | 33% |
Unknown | 2 | 67% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 2 | 67% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 1 | 33% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Kenya | 2 | 4% |
Unknown | 48 | 96% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Researcher | 11 | 22% |
Student > Master | 8 | 16% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 6 | 12% |
Unspecified | 5 | 10% |
Professor | 4 | 8% |
Other | 10 | 20% |
Unknown | 6 | 12% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 11 | 22% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 8 | 16% |
Chemistry | 7 | 14% |
Design | 5 | 10% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 4 | 8% |
Other | 8 | 16% |
Unknown | 7 | 14% |