We investigated the genetic diversity of orthologous genes encoding the rhoptry-associated protein 1 (RAP-1), a low polymorphic protein of malarial parasites that is involved in erythrocyte invasion.
Here we show that the R1 peptide binds the PfAMA1 hydrophobic trough and demonstrate that binding to this region prevents its interaction with the PfRON complex. We show that this defined association between PfAMA1 and the PfRON complex occurs after reorientation and engagement of the actomyosin motor and argue that it precedes rhoptry release.
Our findings indicate that malaria vivax infection lead to an increased number of activated Treg cells that are highly associated with parasite load, which probably exert an important contribution to the modulation of immune responses during P. vivax infection.
The study demonstrates that genetic manipulation provides a platform for the designed, complete attenuation of malaria parasite blood stages and suggests testing the safety and efficacy of P. falciparum NT1 knockout strains in humans.
We review recent data on the sequences mediating export of PNEPs and compare this process to PEXEL export taking into account novel findings on the function of this motif.
