Biomod/2011/MIT/Origami/Malaria
Introduction
Treatments
Malaria Literature
Malaria Mechanism Revealed A protein on the surface of the parasite, EBA-175, binds to glycophorin A, a receptor protein on the surface of red blood cells. If the parasite doesn't bind soon after it is released from the liver cells, it dies. EBA-175 has two RII molecules that come together resembling a handshake. The overall shape resembles a donut with two holes. This handshake interaction attaches the parasite protein onto the glycophorin A receptor. <html><a href="http://www.bnl.gov/bnlweb/pubaf/pr/PR_display.asp?prID=05-X15">Link</a></html>
Structural Basis for the EBA-175 Erythrocyte Invasion Pathway <html><a href ="http://joshua-torlab.cshl.edu/pdf/Tolia-et-al-Cell.pdf">Link</a></html>
This paper from 2006 details the invasion of red blood cells by malaria. Discussed are the initial interactions which are nonspecific but large in volume and then the proper orientation and entry into the cell, which can occur as fast as 60 seconds <html><a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=MImg&_cid=272196&_user=501045&_pii=S0092867406001814&_coverDate=02%2F24%2F2006&view=c&wchp=dGLzVlt-zSkzk&md5=3be0493ea2cbcf69cb2c0108cb972578/1-s2.0-S0092867406001814-main.pdf">Link</a></html>
