Widespread functional specialization of <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> erythrocyte membrane protein 1 family members to bind CD36 analysed across a parasite genome

Abstract excerpt

Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes sequester from blood circulation by binding host endothelium. A large family of variant proteins mediates cytoadherence and their binding specificity determines parasite sequestration patterns and potential for disease. The aim of the present study was to understand how binding properties are encoded into family members and to develop sequence algorithms for predicting...