@article{PAR00009523,
  title = {{F}irst-trimester {P}lasmodium falciparum infections display a typical "placental" phenotype},
  author = {{D}oritchamou, {J}. and {B}ertin, {G}wladys and {M}oussiliou, {A}. and {B}igey, {P}. and {V}iwami, {F}. and {E}zinmegnon, {S}. and {F}ievet, {N}adine and {M}assougbodji, {A}. and {D}eloron, {P}hilippe and {T}uikue {N}dam, {N}icaise},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground. {P}lasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes ({IE}s) adhere to host cell receptors, allowing parasites to sequester into deep vascular beds of various organs. {T}his defining phenomenon of malaria pathogenesis is key to the severe clinical complications associated with cerebral and placental malaria. {T}he principal ligand associated with the binding to chondroitin sulfate {A} ({CSA}) that allows placental sequestration of {IE}s is a {P}. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 ({P}f{EMP}1) family member encoded by the var2csa gene. {M}ethods. {H}ere, we investigated the transcription pattern of var genes by real-time polymerase chain reaction, the expression of {VAR}2{CSA}, protein by flow cytometry, and the {CSA}-binding ability of {IE}s collected at different stages of pregnancy using a static-based {P}etri dish assay. {R}esults. {T}hrough comparison with the profiles of isolates from nonpregnant hosts, we report several lines of evidence showing that parasites infecting women during pregnancy preferentially express {VAR}2{CSA} protein, and that selection for the capacity to adhere to {CSA} via {VAR}2{CSA} expression occurs early in pregnancy. {C}onclusions. {O}ur data suggest that the placental tropism of {P}. falciparum is already established in the first trimester of pregnancy, with consequent implications for the development of the pathology associated with placental malaria.},
  keywords = {},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {I}nfectious {D}iseases},
  volume = {206},
  numero = {12},
  pages = {1911--1919},
  ISSN = {0022-1899},
  year = {2012},
  DOI = {10.1093/infdis/jis629},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/{PAR}00009523},
}