AI Article Synopsis
- The study focuses on two closely related malaria parasites that infect humans, investigating the role of a specific protein, MTRAP, essential for their invasion of human red blood cells.
- Through a series of experiments, researchers expressed MTRAP proteins, analyzed immune responses, and found that antibodies against these proteins can inhibit parasite invasion.
- The findings suggest that MTRAP could be a valuable target for creating vaccines and treatments for both vivax and knowlesi malaria.
Article Abstract
, the most widespread human malaria parasite, and , an emerging that infects humans, are the phylogenetically closest malarial species that infect humans, which may induce cross-species reactivity across most co-endemic areas in Southeast Asia. The thrombospondin-related anonymous protein (TRAP) family is indispensable for motility and host cell invasion in the growth and development of parasites. The merozoite-specific TRAP (MTRAP), expressed in blood-stage merozoites, is supposed to be essential for human erythrocyte invasion. We aimed to characterize MTRAPs in blood-stage and parasites and ascertain their cross-species immunoreactivity. Recombinant and MTRAPs of full-length ectodomains were expressed in a mammalian expression system. The MTRAP-specific immunoglobulin G, obtained from immune animals, was used in an immunofluorescence assay for subcellular localization and invasion inhibitory activity in blood-stage parasites was determined. The cross-species humoral immune responses were analyzed in the sera of patients with or infections. The MTRAPs of (PvMTRAP) and (PkMTRAP) were localized on the rhoptry body of merozoites in blood-stage parasites. Both anti-PvMTRAP and anti-PkMTRAP antibodies inhibited erythrocyte invasion of blood-stage parasites. The humoral immune response to PvMTRAP showed high immunogenicity, longevity, and cross-species immunoreactivity with . MTRAPs are promising candidates for development of vaccines and therapeutics against vivax and knowlesi malaria.
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| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10920329 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2024.1354880 | DOI Listing |
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