Interactions Between Malaria Parasite Proteins and Human Apolipoproteins
Author Information
Author(s): Marissa Vignali, Anastasia McKinlay, Douglas J LaCount, Rakesh Chettier, Russell Bell, Sudhir Sahasrabudhe, Robert E Hughes, Stanley Fields
Primary Institution: University of Washington
Hypothesis
The study aims to identify interactions between proteins of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum and human proteins to understand malaria pathogenesis.
Conclusion
The study generated a dataset of interactions that suggests the ApoE genotype affects the risk of malaria infection.
Supporting Evidence
- The study identified 456 interactions between P. falciparum proteins and human proteins.
- PFE1590w preferentially interacts with ApoE ε3 and ε4 isoforms, which are associated with different malaria outcomes.
- Previous studies have shown correlations between ApoE genotype and malaria susceptibility.
Takeaway
The malaria parasite interacts with human proteins, and some versions of a protein called ApoE can change how likely someone is to get malaria.
Methodology
A modified yeast two-hybrid methodology was used to screen interactions between P. falciparum protein fragments and human liver and cerebellum libraries.
Limitations
The dataset may still contain false positives from the two-hybrid assay, and no complementary verification by biochemical methods was performed.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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