%0 Journal Article
%9 ACL : Articles dans des revues avec comité de lecture répertoriées par l'AERES
%A Doritchamou, J.
%A Sabbagh, A.
%A Jespersen, J. S.
%A Renard, E.
%A Salanti, A.
%A Nielsen, M. A.
%A Deloron, Philippe
%A Tuikue Ndam, Nicaise
%T Identification of a major dimorphic region in the functionally critical N-terminal ID1 domain of VAR2CSA
%D 2015
%L fdi:010065355
%G ENG
%J Plos One
%@ 1932-6203
%M ISI:000361792100016
%N 9
%P e0137695 [14 ]
%R 10.1371/journal.pone.0137695
%U https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010065355
%> https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/divers17-08/010065355.pdf
%V 10
%W Horizon (IRD)
%X The VAR2CSA protein of Plasmodium falciparum is transported to and expressed on the infected erythrocyte surface where it plays a key role in placental malaria (PM). It is the current leading candidate for a vaccine to prevent PM. However, the antigenic polymorphism integral to VAR2CSA poses a challenge for vaccine development. Based on detailed analysis of polymorphisms in the sequence of its ligand-binding N-terminal region, currently the main focus for vaccine development, we assessed var2csa from parasite isolates infecting pregnant women. The results reveal for the first time the presence of a major dimorphic region in the functionally critical N-terminal ID1 domain. Parasite isolates expressing VAR2CSA with particular motifs present within this domain are associated with gravidity-and parasite density-related effects. These observations are of particular interest in guiding efforts with respect to optimization of the VAR2CSA-based vaccines currently under development.
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