Evidence map›Paper›PMID 18320051›Full record

ArticlePloS one2008

Identification and characterization of a novel Plasmodium falciparum merozoite apical protein involved in erythrocyte binding and invasion.

Thilan Wickramarachchi, Yengkhom S Devi, Asif Mohmmed, Virander S Chauhan

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2008. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 34 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
34citing papers in PubMed
5.7field-weighted citation impact, top 4% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

34 citing papers in PubMed, 65 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
  3. Identification of a novel rhoptry protein expressed predominantly inFrontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2025
    Article
  4. Article
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  8. Functional Comparison of Blood-StageFrontiers in immunology · 2019
    Article
  9. Heterologous expression inFEBS open bio · 2018
    Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Thilan WickramarachchiMalaria Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India.
Yengkhom S Devi
Asif Mohmmed
Virander S Chauhan
International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology · IN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Proteins that coat Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface and those secreted from its apical secretory organelles are considered promising candidates for the vaccine against malaria. In the present study, we have identified an asparagine rich parasite protein (PfAARP; Gene ID PFD1105w), that harbors a predicted signal sequence, a C-terminal transmembrane region and whose transcription and translation patterns are similar to some well characterized merozoite surface/apical proteins. PfAARP was localized to the apical end of the merozoites by GFP-targeting approach using an inducible, schizont-stage expression system, by immunofluorescence assays using anti-PfAARP antibodies. Immuno-electron microsopic studies showed that PfAARP is localized in the apical ends of the rhoptries in the merozoites. RBC binding assays with PfAARP expressed on COS cells surface showed that it binds to RBCs through its N-terminal region with a receptor on the RBC surface that is sensitive to trypsin and neuraminidase treatments. Sequencing of PfAARP from different P. falciparum strains as well as field isolates showed that the N-terminal region is highly conserved. Recombinant protein corresponding to the N-terminal region of PfAARP (PfAARP-N) was produced in its functional form in E. coli. PfAARP-N showed reactivity with immune sera from individuals residing in P. falciparum endemic area. The anti-PfAARP-N rabbit antibodies significantly inhibited parasite invasion in vitro. Our data on localization, functional assays and invasion inhibition, suggest a role of PfAARP in erythrocyte binding and invasion by the merozoite.

Indexed as

Amino Acid SequenceAnimalsBlotting, NorthernBlotting, WesternChlorocebus aethiopsCloning, MolecularCOS CellsEnzyme-Linked Immunosorbent AssayErythrocytesFluorescent Antibody TechniqueHumansImmunizationMalaria, FalciparumMerozoitesMiceMice, Inbred BALB CProtozoan ProteinsRecombinant Fusion ProteinsRNA, Messenger

Identifiers

PMID18320051
PMCPMC2253826
OpenAlexW2018420303

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.