恶性疟原虫var基因家族与抗原变异研究进展

恶性疟原虫变异抗原基因(var基因)家族编码的恶性疟原虫红细胞膜蛋白1(PfEMP1)是介导恶性疟原虫抗原变异和红细胞黏附微血管的媒介。本文从恶性疟原虫抗原变异和致病性、感染红细胞表面变异分子的表达、var基因家族的基因结构、PfEMP1蛋白的黏附特性以及var基因家族的变异调控等方面对恶性疟原虫var基因家族与抗原变异的研究进行综述。

Var Gene Family and Antigen Variation in Plasmodium falciparum

An immunovariant adhesion protein family in Plasmodium falciparum named erythrocyte membrane protein 1(PfEMP1), encoded by var genes, is responsible for both antigenic variation and cytoadhesion of infected erythrocytes at microvasculature sites throughout the body. The article summarizes antigen variation and pathogenicity, variation molecules expressed on infected erythrocytes, structure of var gene family, PfEMP1 adhesion properites, and regulation of variation in Plasmodium falciparum var gene family.