ArticleNature microbiology2025
scRNA-seq reveals transcriptional plasticity of var gene expression in Plasmodium falciparum for host immune avoidance.
Article in Nature microbiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed.
- A critical role of the histone lysine demethylase JmjC1 in regulating severe malaria-associated virulence genes in Plasmodium falciparum.Nature communications · 2026Article
- Predictive value of PfEMP1 antibody profiles for the course of controlled human malaria infections.PLoS pathogens · 2026Article
- Epigenetics and chromatin structure regulateeLife · 2026Article
- Mechanistic insights into coordinated var transcriptional switching in malaria parasites.The EMBO journal · 2026Article
- Toward Prostate Cancer Early Warning with a Self-Powered Wearable Biosensing Platform Integrated with Machine Learning.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026Article
- Epigenetics and chromatin structure regulatebioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026Article
- The interplay between recovery and immunity in infectious and non-communicable diseases.Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2026Review
- Advances in Single-Cell Sequencing for Infectious Diseases: Progress and Perspectives.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2025Review
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Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum evades antibody recognition through transcriptional switching between members of the var gene family, which encodes the major virulence factor and surface antigen on infected red blood cells. Previous work with clonal P. falciparum populations revealed var gene expression profiles inconsistent with uniform single var gene expression. However, the mechanisms underpinning this and how it might contribute to chronic infections were unclear. Here, using single-cell transcriptomics employing enrichment probes and a portable microwell system, we analysed var gene expression in clonal 3D7 and IT4 parasite lines. We show that in addition to mono-allelic var gene expression, individual parasites can simultaneously express multiple var genes or enter a state in which little or no var gene expression is detectable. Reduced var gene expression resulted in greatly decreased antibody recognition of infected cells. This transcriptional flexibility provides parasites with greater adaptive capacity and could explain the antigenically 'invisible' parasites observed in chronic asymptomatic infections.
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