The Plasmodium vivax MSP1P-19 is involved in binding of reticulocytes through interactions with the membrane proteins band3 and CD71.

The parasite Plasmodium vivax preferentially invades human reticulocytes. Its merozoite surface protein 1 paralog (PvMSP1P), particularly the 19-kDa C-terminal region (PvMSP1P-19), has been shown to bind to reticulocytes, and this binding can be inhibited by antisera obtained by PvMSP1P-19 immunization. The molecular mechanism of interactions between PvMSP1P-19 and reticulocytes during P.