A SINGLE FRAGMENT OF A MALARIA MEROZOITE SURFACE PROTEIN REMAINS ON THE PARASITE DURING RED-CELL INVASION AND IS THE TARGET OF INVASION-INHIBITING ANTIBODIES

A complex of polypeptides derived from a precursor is present on the surface of the malaria merozoite. During erythrocyte invasion only a small fragment from this complex is retained on the parasite surface and carried into the newly infected red cell. Antibodies to this fragment will interrupt invasion. © 1990, Rockefeller University Press., All rights reserved.