Identification of Multiple Chondroitin Sulfate A (CSA)–Binding Domains in the var2CSA Gene Transcribed in CSA-Binding Parasites

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 191; no. 6; pp. 1010 - 1013
• Main Authors: Gamain, Benoit, Trimnell, Adama R., Scheidig, Christine, Scherf, Artur, Miller, Louis H., Smith, Joseph D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 15.03.2005; University of Chicago Press; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Adhesion; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Antigens, Protozoan - chemistry; Antigens, Protozoan - genetics; Antigens, Protozoan - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Cattle; CHO Cells; Chondroitin Sulfates - metabolism; Cricetinae; Erythrocytes; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genes; Geographic regions; Infectious diseases; Malaria; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Molecular Sequence Data; Parasites; Placenta; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium falciparum - metabolism; Porins - chemistry; Porins - genetics; Porins - metabolism; Pregnancy; Protozoan Proteins - chemistry; Protozoan Proteins - genetics; Protozoan Proteins - metabolism; Sulfates; Transcription, Genetic; Up-Regulation; Infection; Identification; Parasitosis; Gene; Microbiology
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1086/428137

Malaria in pregnancy is a serious complication associated with parasitized erythrocyte (PE) sequestration in the placenta. Recent work suggests that var genes could play an important role in PE binding to chondroitin sulfate A (CSA), a primary placental adherence receptor. Here, we confirm that var2CSA is transcriptionally up-regulated in CSA-binding parasites and define CSA-binding domains in var2CSA. The identification of multiple binding domains in var2CSA strengthens the evidence for their involvement in malaria during pregnancy and may have applications for the development of a vaccine against malaria in pregnancy