The human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum can sense environmental changes and respond by antigenic switching
Schneider V, Visone J, Harris C, Florini F, Hadjimichael E, Zhang X, Gross M, Rhee K, Mamoun C, Kafsack B, Deitsch K. The human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum can sense environmental changes and respond by antigenic switching. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2023, 120: e2302152120. PMID: 37068249, PMCID: PMC10151525, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2302152120.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGene switchingGene expressionHistone methyltransferasesHuman malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparumMalaria parasite Plasmodium falciparumS-adenosylmethionineGene expression patternsMulticopy gene familiesVariant surface proteinsParasite Plasmodium falciparumHuman malaria parasiteIntracellular S-adenosylmethioninePrincipal methyl donorEpigenetic controlGene familyActive genesAntigenic switchingGene transcriptionNutrient availabilityExpression patternsMethylation modificationSAM metabolismGenetic modificationAntigenic variationSurface proteinsProperties and predicted functions of large genes and proteins of apicomplexan parasites
Fang T, Mohseni A, Lonardi S, Mamoun C. Properties and predicted functions of large genes and proteins of apicomplexan parasites. NAR Genomics And Bioinformatics 2024, 6: lqae032. PMID: 38584870, PMCID: PMC10993292, DOI: 10.1093/nargab/lqae032.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchApicomplexan parasitesCausative agent of toxoplasmosisProtein sizeAgent of toxoplasmosisPathogen-host interactionsToxoplasma gondii</i>Conventional metabolic pathwaysCompact genomeEukaryotic organismsEncode proteinsEvolutionary constraintsNutrient acquisitionApicomplexan pathogensEvolutionary pressureAntigenic variationMetabolic pathwaysExpression patternsLarger proteinsParasitesCausative agentProteinGenesImmune evasionErythrocyte invasionPlasmodium falciparum</i>