Cerebral Plasmodium falciparum malaria: The role of PfEMP1 in its pathogenesis and immunity, and PfEMP1-based vaccines to prevent it.

Abstract

Malaria, a mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium continues to be a major health problem worldwide. The unicellular Plasmodium-parasites have the unique capacity to infect and replicate within host erythrocytes. By expressing variant surface antigens Plasmodium falciparum has evolved to avoid protective immune responses; as a result in endemic areas anti-malaria immunity develops gradually over many years of multiple and repeated infections. We are studying the role of Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) expressed by asexual stages of P. falciparum responsible for the pathogenicity of severe malaria. The immunopathology of falciparum malaria has been linked to cyto-adhesion of infected erythrocytes to specific host receptors. A greater appreciation of the PfEMP1 molecules important for the development of protective immunity and immunopathology is a prerequisite for the rational discovery and development of a safe and protective anti-disease malaria vaccine. Here we review the role of ICAM-1 and EPCR receptor adhering falciparum-parasites in the development of severe malaria; we discuss our current research to understand the factors involved in the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria and the feasibility of developing a vaccine targeted specifically to prevent this disease.

• Authors: Anja Ramstedt Jensen, Yvonne Adams, Lars Hviid
• Journal: Immunological reviews (Immunol Rev) Vol. 293 Issue 1 Pg. 230-252 (01 2020) ISSN: 1600-065X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 31562653 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: © 2019 The Authors. Immunological Reviews published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Chemical References

• Antigens, Protozoan
• Malaria Vaccines
• Protozoan Proteins
• erythrocyte membrane protein 1, Plasmodium falciparum

Topics

• Antigenic Variation
• Antigens, Protozoan (chemistry, immunology)
• Host-Parasite Interactions (immunology)
• Humans
• Immunity
• Malaria Vaccines (immunology)
• Malaria, Cerebral (immunology, parasitology, prevention & control)
• Malaria, Falciparum (immunology, parasitology, prevention & control)
• Plasmodium falciparum (immunology)
• Protozoan Proteins (chemistry, immunology)
• Structure-Activity Relationship