Discussion

The surface of a parasite lies at the front line of its interaction with its mammalian host. Here are located proteins which help parasites to take up nutrients, or to interact with invariant receptors, during processes such as invasion of erythrocytes by malaria parasites. But these parasite molecules are also under attack from components of the mammalian immune system. They therefore diversify into large families and/or evolve the ability to bind to human immune receptors and modulators to avoid causing detection and immune clearance of the parasite. In this talk, Matt will discuss how molecular insights reveal some of the tricks which these parasite surface proteins use to help their parasite to survive.