Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Host-parasite coevolution has been likened to a molecular arms race, with particular parasite genes evolving to evade specific host defenses. Study of the variants of an antigenic epitope of Plasmodium falciparum that induces a cytotoxic T cell response supports this view. In African children with malaria, the variants present are influenced by the presence of a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) type that restricts the immune response to this epitope. The distribution of parasite variants may be further influenced by the ability of cohabiting parasite strains to facilitate each other's survival by down-regulating cellular immune responses, using altered peptide ligand antagonism.

Original publication

DOI

10.1126/science.279.5354.1173

Type

Journal article

Journal

Science

Publication Date

20/02/1998

Volume

279

Pages

1173 - 1177

Keywords

Alleles, Animals, Antigens, Protozoan, Biological Evolution, Child, Epitopes, Evolution, Molecular, Gambia, Genes, Protozoan, Genetic Variation, HLA-B35 Antigen, Humans, Ligands, Malaria, Falciparum, Models, Biological, Plasmodium falciparum, Protozoan Proteins, T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic