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Major surface antigen gene of a human malaria parasite cloned and expressed in bacteria

Nature volume 311, pages 379–382 (1984)Cite this article

Abstract

The late blood stages of the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, carry a major surface antigen, p190, of molecular weight (Mr) 190,000 (ref. 1). This antigenically variable protein1–3 is actively processed, first as the parasite matures and again when it is released into the blood stream and invades a new erythrocyte to initiate a cycle of growth1. It elicits a strong immune response in man; all tested adult sera from endemic areas have antibodies against this protein1. Our evidence indicates that purified p 190 can alter the course of parasitaemia in monkeys with falciparum malaria. We have also succeeded in cloning part of the gene for p190 and expressing it in Escherichia coli. To this end we have developed a new technique, antibody select, which greatly simplifies final identification of expressing clones.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Biology, University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JR, UK

    Roger Hall, John E. Hyde, Mike Goman, David L. Simmons, Ian A. Hope, Martin Mackay & John Scaife

  2. Pharmaceutical Research Division, Hoffmann La Roche and Co., Basel, Switzerland

    Bernhard Merkli, Rolf Richle & John Stocker

Authors
  1. Roger Hall
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  2. John E. Hyde
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  3. Mike Goman
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  4. David L. Simmons
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  5. Ian A. Hope
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  6. Martin Mackay
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  7. John Scaife
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  8. Bernhard Merkli
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  9. Rolf Richle
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  10. John Stocker
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Hall, R., Hyde, J., Goman, M. et al. Major surface antigen gene of a human malaria parasite cloned and expressed in bacteria. Nature 311, 379–382 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/311379a0

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