Three Is a Crowd - New Insights into Rosetting in Plasmodium falciparum

Trends Parasitol. 2017 Apr;33(4):309-320. doi: 10.1016/j.pt.2016.12.012. Epub 2017 Jan 18.

Abstract

The intracellular malaria parasites extensively modify host erythrocytes to allow nutrient uptake, ensure homeostasis, and evade the host's immune response. To achieve this, the parasite exports several proteins to the erythrocyte surface. In Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for the most severe form of human malaria, three major variant surface antigen families - PfEMP1, STEVOR, and RIFIN - have been implicated in contributing to immune evasion, parasite sequestration, and parasite-mediated rosetting of uninfected erythrocytes. Sequestration and rosetting have been linked to parasite-mediated pathology, making the variant surface antigens of P. falciparum major virulence factors. Here we review our current understanding of rosetting mechanism, recent findings of STEVOR, RIFIN-mediated rosetting, and their implication on the severity and pathology of the disease.

Keywords: PfEMP1; Plasmodium; RIFIN; STEVOR; infected RBC; rosetting.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Surface / immunology*
  • Erythrocytes / immunology
  • Erythrocytes / parasitology*
  • Humans
  • Immune Evasion / immunology*
  • Malaria, Falciparum / immunology*
  • Malaria, Falciparum / parasitology*
  • Malaria, Falciparum / pathology
  • Plasmodium falciparum / immunology
  • Protozoan Proteins / immunology*
  • Rosette Formation
  • Virulence Factors

Substances

  • Antigens, Surface
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Virulence Factors