Evolution of the multi-domain structures of virulence genes in the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum.

The var gene family of Plasmodium falciparum encodes the immunodominant variant surface antigens PfEMP1. These highly polymorphic proteins are important virulence factors that mediate cytoadhesion to a variety of host tissues, causing sequestration of parasitized red blood cells in vital organs, inc...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Caroline O Buckee, Mario Recker
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2012-01-01
Series:PLoS Computational Biology
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3325180?pdf=render