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Related Concept Videos

Malaria01:29

Malaria

Malaria pathogenesis in humans reflects a delicate interplay between parasite biology and host response. Clinical illness reflects a host’s immune response to the parasite’s asexual replication cycle, which is often asymptomatic in individuals with partial immunity. From the parasite's perspective, transmission between mosquito and human with minimal host pathology is evolutionarily advantageous. Among the six Plasmodium species infecting humans, P. falciparum and P. vivax dominate in global...
Genetic Variation01:25

Genetic Variation

Genetic variation is the diversity in DNA sequences found among individuals of the same species. This diversity is crucial for a species' survival because it helps organisms adapt to environmental changes. Genetic variation begins with fertilization, where an egg and sperm cell merge. Each of these cells carries 23 chromosomes, up to 46 in the fertilized egg. Chromosomes are long DNA strands that contain genes, the basic units of heredity.
Genes exist in different versions called alleles, which...
Diversity of Protists II01:27

Diversity of Protists II

Alveolates are a group of organisms recognized by the presence of alveoli, which are cytoplasmic sacs located beneath the cell membrane. While their function remains uncertain, alveoli may help regulate water balance by controlling how much water enters and leaves the cell. In dinoflagellates, these structures may serve as armor plates. There are three major types of alveolates: ciliates, which move using cilia; dinoflagellates, which use flagella for movement; and apicomplexans, which are...
Comparing Copy Number Variations and SNPs02:26

Comparing Copy Number Variations and SNPs

Sequencing of the human genome has opened up several best-kept secrets of the genome. Scientists have identified thousands of genome variations that exist within a population. These variations can be a single nucleotide or a larger chromosomal variation.
Copy number variations or CNVs are the structural variations that cover more than 1kb of DNA sequence. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), on the other hand, is a single nucleotide change or a point mutation that is found in more than 1%...
Principles of Pharmacogenetics: Types of Genetic Variants01:27

Principles of Pharmacogenetics: Types of Genetic Variants

The human genome is over 99.9% identical between individuals, yet genetic differences exist at millions of bases. The human genome contains approximately 3 million variant positions per individual, many of which are heterozygous, contributing to genetic diversity and individual traits. Genetic variations include single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), insertions, deletions, and copy number variations (CNVs).SNPs, the most common variation, involve single-base changes in DNA. These can be...
Symbiosis00:58

Symbiosis

Symbiotic relationships are long-term, close interactions between individuals of different species that affect the distribution and abundance of those species. When a relationship is beneficial to both species, this is called mutualism. When the relationship is beneficial to one species but neither beneficial nor harmful to the other species, this is called commensalism. When one organism is harmed to benefit another, the relationship is known as parasitism. These types of relationships often...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 1, 2026

Protocol for Plasmodium falciparum Infections in Mosquitoes and Infection Phenotype Determination
14:10

Protocol for Plasmodium falciparum Infections in Mosquitoes and Infection Phenotype Determination

Published on: July 4, 2007

Antigenic variation in Plasmodium falciparum.

Artur Scherf1, Jose Juan Lopez-Rubio, Loïc Riviere

  • 1Biology of Host-Parasite Interactions Unit, CNRS URA2581, Institut Pasteur 75724 Paris, France. ascherf@pasteur.fr

Annual Review of Microbiology
|September 13, 2008
PubMed
Summary

The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum uses variant surface antigens (PfEMP1) to evade the immune system. Epigenetic factors control the expression of these var genes, enabling parasite survival and causing severe disease.

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Methods to Investigate the Regulatory Role of Small RNAs and Ribosomal Occupancy of Plasmodium falciparum
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Last Updated: Jul 1, 2026

Protocol for Plasmodium falciparum Infections in Mosquitoes and Infection Phenotype Determination
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Published on: July 4, 2007

Measuring Naturally Acquired Phagocytosis-Inducing Antibodies to Plasmodium falciparum Parasites by a Flow Cytometry-Based Assay
09:57

Measuring Naturally Acquired Phagocytosis-Inducing Antibodies to Plasmodium falciparum Parasites by a Flow Cytometry-Based Assay

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Methods to Investigate the Regulatory Role of Small RNAs and Ribosomal Occupancy of Plasmodium falciparum
10:22

Methods to Investigate the Regulatory Role of Small RNAs and Ribosomal Occupancy of Plasmodium falciparum

Published on: December 4, 2015

Area of Science:

  • Molecular biology
  • Parasitology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • The human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, persists through antigenic variation.
  • This variation relies on expressing different PfEMP1 surface molecules, encoded by ~60 var genes.
  • Each parasite expresses only one var gene at a time, silencing others.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the regulatory mechanisms of monoallelic var gene expression.
  • To discuss the role of epigenetic factors in antigenic variation.
  • To address controversies regarding var genetic elements.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on Plasmodium falciparum var gene regulation.
  • Analysis of epigenetic mechanisms including histone modifications and heterochromatin.
  • Discussion of spatial organization of var genes within the nucleus.

Main Results:

  • Monoallelic var transcription is regulated by epigenetic factors.
  • Var gene silencing involves telomeric heterochromatin and differential histone marks.
  • Nuclear periphery localization is linked to monoallelic expression.

Conclusions:

  • Epigenetic mechanisms are crucial for controlling var gene expression and antigenic variation.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is key to combating severe malaria.
  • Further research is needed to resolve controversies surrounding var genetic elements.