Open AccessVirulence and transmission success of the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum
Author(s) -
Rhian E. Hayward,
Bela Tiwari,
Kim Piper,
Dror I. Baruch,
Karen P. Day
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.96.8.4563
Subject(s) - plasmodium falciparum , virulence , biology , parasite hosting , population , antigenic variation , transmission (telecommunications) , virology , gene , immunity , malaria , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , immune system , immunology , medicine , environmental health , world wide web , computer science , electrical engineering , engineering
Virulence ofPlasmodium falciparum is associated with the expression of variant surface antigens designated PfEMP1 (P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1) that are encoded by a family ofvar genes. Data presented show that the transmission stages ofP. 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.