Cytoadherence of malaria-infected erythrocytes

Malaria-infected erythrocytes express new antigenic structures on their surface. Some of these molecules are responsible for the cytoadherence of infected cells to endothelial cells which, because of the sequestration produced, may, in turn, be responsible for the pathogenesis of the severe forms of the disease in humans (e.g., cerebral malaria). This paper critically reviews the state of the art concerning cytoadherence, with particular emphasis on the different experimental approaches that have been used to study the phenomenon and the parasite molecules that may be involved.