[Molecular recognition between glycophorin A and Plasmodium falciparum merozoites]

By using purified human erythrocyte membrane glycophorin A (GPA) and glycopeptide of GPA, antibodies against GPA and against GPA-glycopeptide, and SPA-colloidal gold, Plasmodium falciparum FCC-1/HN merozoites were immunolabeled. The labeled samples were observed under transmission electron microscope (TEM). The TEM pictures showed that colloidal gold pellets were distributed over all of the merozoite surface. This is the first report on the direct experimental evidence of molecular recognition and combination between GPA (or glycopeptide of GPA) and Plasmodium falciparum merozoites. The results strongly support the hypothesis that GPA is involved as a recognized receptor on erythrocytes for Plasmodium falciparum and the glycopeptide domain of GPA is the receptor site for Plasmodium falciparum.