Selective upregulation of a single distinctly structured var gene in chondroitin sulphate A-adhering Plasmodium falciparum involved in pregnancy-associated malaria

摘要: Cytoadhesion of infected red blood cells (iRBC) is mediated through parasite-encoded, clonally variant surface antigens (VSA) and a central process in the pathogenesis Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Pregnancy-associated malaria (PAM) has been linked to VSA-mediated adhesion iRBC glycosaminoglycan chondroitin sulphate A (CSA) placental intervillous space. Several studies have pointed members PfEMP1 VSA family as mediators CSA-specific sequestration placenta. Here, we report marked upregulation single var gene several P. parasite isolates after selection for CSA vitro. The belongs highly conserved common subfamily (var2csa). var2csa genes are structurally distinct from all other genome lacking both CIDR DBL-gamma domains. These domains previously implicated PfEMP1-mediated CD36 CSA. We also show that was transcribed at higher levels three compared with transcription parasites peripheral two children This thus properties expected encoding molecule initiates pathology associated PAM.