Molecules on the surface of the Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocyteand their role in malaria pathogenesis and immune evasion

The surface of the erythrocyte undergoes a number of modifications during i nfection by Plasmodium falciparum. These modifications are critical for pat hogenesis of severe disease and the acquisition of host immunity through th eir role in interactions between the host and the parasite and in antigenic variation. Our knowledge of the molecular basis for these processes has in creased dramatically over the last tiw years, through a combination of geno mic and biochemical studies. This review provides a summary of the molecule s involved in cytoadherence and antigenic variation in P. falciparum. (C) 2 001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.