Abstract
Rosetting is a virulent Plasmodium falciparum phenomenon associated with severe malaria. Here we demonstrate that P. falciparum-encoded repetitive interspersed families of polypeptides (RIFINs) are expressed on the surface of infected red blood cells (iRBCs), where they bind to RBCs--preferentially of blood group A--to form large rosettes and mediate microvascular binding of iRBCs. We suggest that RIFINs have a fundamental role in the development of severe malaria and thereby contribute to the varying global distribution of ABO blood groups in the human population.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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ABO Blood-Group System
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Animals
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Antigens, Protozoan / physiology*
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CHO Cells
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Cricetinae
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Cricetulus
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Dogs
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Drosophila
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Erythrocytes / parasitology*
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Escherichia coli / metabolism
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Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
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Humans
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Immunoglobulin G / immunology
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Malaria, Falciparum / metabolism*
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Male
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Microcirculation
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Microscopy, Confocal
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Microsomes / metabolism
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Pancreas / parasitology
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Plasmodium falciparum / metabolism*
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Protein Multimerization
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Protozoan Proteins / physiology*
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Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Sequence Analysis, RNA
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Transfection
Substances
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ABO Blood-Group System
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Antigens, Protozoan
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Immunoglobulin G
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Protozoan Proteins