Parasite adhesion and immune evasion in placental malaria

Parasite sequestration in the placenta is a key feature of infection by Pla smodium falciparum during pregnancy and is associated with severe adverse o utcomes for both mother and baby. Here, James Beeson and colleagues draw to gether the findings of recent studies on parasite mechanisms that mediate t his process. They review evidence for novel parasite va ria nts that appear able to evade pre-existing immunity, for the adhesion of Fl falciparum-inf ected erythrocytes to placental glycosaminoglycans land the molecular basis of these parasite properties) and for the expression of var genes encoding the variant antigen and adhesive ligand P. falciparum-erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1).