Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0024530 (malaria)
 44,886 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Certain stages of the immune response require interaction of leukocytes with each other and with non-hematopoietic cells. One of the systems implicated in these interactions involves an integrin, LFA-1 (Lymphocyte Function Antigen-1), expressed by all leukocytes at their cell surface, and a molecule belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily, ICAM-1 (Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1). The avidity of LFA-1 for ICAM-1 is transient. It is modulated both by regulation of ICAM-1 expression and by activation of LFA-1 molecules constitutively expressed on leukocyte membranes. This activation, which induces a conformational change in the molecule, depends on the presence of divalent cations, notably Mg++. This has been demonstrated by using a specific monoclonal antibody, MAb 24. In addition to being a ligand for LFA-1, ICAM-1 is sometimes used as a cell receptor by pathogens such as Plasmodium falciparum, the causative organism of malaria. Very careful study of the binding site of this pathogen using specific antibodies, mutagenesis studies and the construction of a three-dimensional model of the molecule suggests some interesting therapeutic possibilities for the treatment of malaria.
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PMID:Leukocyte integrin activation. 136 59

Azurin, a member of a family of copper-containing proteins involved in electron transfer called cupredoxins, demonstrates structural features similar to the variable domains of the immunoglobulin superfamily members. An azurin-like protein called Laz with an additional N-terminal 39 amino acid peptide known as H.8 epitope is present on the surface of gonnococci and meningococci. We demonstrate that azurin, Laz and H.8-azurin can bind to the C-terminal cleavage product MSP1-19 of merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1) of the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum and significantly reduce parasitemia. Azurin and Laz also bound strongly to HIV-1 gp120. Interestingly, azurin could not only bind to gp120 but also to the dendritic cell-specific adhesion receptor DC-SIGN, mimicking the functionality of the intercellular adhesion molecule ICAM-3 with which it also binds avidly. Furthermore, these three proteins significantly suppressed HIV-1 growth in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and such suppression appeared to be occurring at an entry stage in the infection process. The presence of both antimalarial and antiretroviral activity in azurin, H.8-azurin and Laz makes these proteins, or peptides derived from them, potential therapeutic agents in the treatment of malaria, HIV-1 infections or coinfections with both P. falciparum and HIV-1.
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PMID:Azurin, Plasmodium falciparum malaria and HIV/AIDS: inhibition of parasitic and viral growth by Azurin. 1686 97

The cytoadhesion of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes (IEs) to the endothelial cells lining the microvasculature, clogging the microvessels of various organs, is a key event in the pathogenesis of certain severe forms of malaria, such as cerebral malaria and pulmonary edema. Studies aiming to identify possible correlations between the severity of clinical cases and the presence of particular cytoadhesion phenotypes have been largely unsuccessful. One of the possible reasons for this failure is that some of the key receptors and/or mechanisms involved have yet to be identified. By combining IE selection, cell transfection, and adhesion inhibition assays, we identified a new cytoadhesion receptor, neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM). NCAM is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily and has nonpolysialylated and polysialylated isoforms, the latter being rare in adults. The nonpolysialylated form is present on the surfaces of endothelial cells in the microvessels of various organs in which IE sequestration occurs. We found that multiphenotypic IEs interacted with nonpolysialylated NCAM and with another, as yet unidentified receptor. These IEs also displayed cytoadhesion in flow conditions, presenting the unique ability to form adherent macroaggregates composed of hundreds of IEs. These features may act as virulence factors, increasing the capacity of IEs to clog microvessels via receptor synergy and macroaggregate formation, thereby facilitating the pathogenesis of severe forms of malaria.
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PMID:Neural cell adhesion molecule, a new cytoadhesion receptor for Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes capable of aggregation. 1748 55

Basigin, also called CD147 or EMMPRIN, is a transmembrane glycoprotein that belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily. Basigin has isoforms; the common form (basigin or basigin-2) has two immunoglobulin domains, and the extended form (basigin-1) has three. Basigin is the receptor for cyclophilins, S100A9 and platelet glycoprotein VI, whereas basigin-1 serves as the receptor for the rod-derived cone viability factor. Basigin tightly associates with monocarboxylate transporters and is essential for their cell surface translocation and activities. In the same membrane plane, basigin also associates with other proteins including GLUT1, CD44 and CD98. The carbohydrate portion of basigin is recognized by lectins, such as galectin-3 and E-selectin. These molecular recognitions form the basis for the role of basigin in the transport of nutrients, migration of inflammatory leukocytes and induction of matrix metalloproteinases. Basigin is important in vision, spermatogenesis and other physiological phenomena, and plays significant roles in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases, including cancer. Basigin is also the receptor for an invasive protein RH5, which is present in malaria parasites.
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PMID:Basigin (CD147), a multifunctional transmembrane glycoprotein with various binding partners. 2668 86

Plasmodium falciparum antigens expressed on the surface of infected erythrocytes are important targets of naturally acquired immunity against malaria, but their high number and variability provide the pathogen with a powerful means of escape from host antibodies. Although broadly reactive antibodies against these antigens could be useful as therapeutics and in vaccine design, their identification has proven elusive. Here we report the isolation of human monoclonal antibodies that recognize erythrocytes infected by different P. falciparum isolates and opsonize these cells by binding to members of the RIFIN family. These antibodies acquired broad reactivity through a novel mechanism of insertion of a large DNA fragment between the V and DJ segments. The insert, which is both necessary and sufficient for binding to RIFINs, encodes the entire 98 amino acid collagen-binding domain of LAIR1, an immunoglobulin superfamily inhibitory receptor encoded on chromosome 19. In each of the two donors studied, the antibodies are produced by a single expanded B-cell clone and carry distinct somatic mutations in the LAIR1 domain that abolish binding to collagen and increase binding to infected erythrocytes. These findings illustrate, with a biologically relevant example, a novel mechanism of antibody diversification by interchromosomal DNA transposition and demonstrate the existence of conserved epitopes that may be suitable candidates for the development of a malaria vaccine.
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PMID:A LAIR1 insertion generates broadly reactive antibodies against malaria variant antigens. 2687 26