VAR2CSA expression on the surface of placenta-derived Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes

Malaria remains a major threat, in sub-Saharan Africa primarily, and the most deadly infections are those with Plasmodium falciparum. Pregnancy-associated malaria is a clinically important complication of infection; it results from a unique interaction between proteoglycans in the placental intervillous space and parasite antigens. Both placental and chondroitin sulphate A-selected parasites have high-level transcripts of a unique var gene named var2csa. However, VAR2CSA has not been consistently found by proteomic analysis of placental parasites. Contrary to this, we found VAR2CSA expressed on the surface of infected erythrocytes from placenta. Importantly, this was achieved with cross-reactive antibodies against VAR2CSA.