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A mathematical model for a new mechanism of phenotypic variation in malaria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 April 2005

M. RECKER ,
R. AL-BADER  and
S. GUPTA
M. RECKER
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK
R. AL-BADER
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, St Mary's Hospital, London W2 1PG, UK
S. GUPTA
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK
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Abstract

The Py235 merozoite rhoptry protein of the rodent malaria agent Plasmodium (yoelii) yoeli is encoded by the Py235 multigene family whose members are transcribed during the parasite's asexual life-cycle in a fashion where single schizonts subsequently give rise to sets of merozoites containing distinct Py235 transcripts. Homologues of Py235 are found in other malaria species, and antibodies to both Py235 and P. falciparum homologues inhibit merozoite invasion, suggesting a unique survival strategy involving immune evasion and host adaptation. Using a mathematical approach to model this free-living stage of Plasmodium in interaction with specific antibodies and a heterogeneous red blood cell population, we investigate if, and under what conditions, this mechanism of clonal phenotypic variation can play a role in immune evasion and adaptation to a dynamic erythropoietic environment.

Keywords

Plasmodium yoeliihost heterogeneityimmune evasionmathematical model
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 131 , Issue 2 , August 2005 , pp. 151 - 159
Copyright
2005 Cambridge University Press

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