DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/6TKZ-AB12
Defense Date
2010
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Biology
First Advisor
D. C. Ghislaine Mayer
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum, the most virulent malarial parasite, is capable of invading all known human blood types. Erythrocyte invasion depends on specific parasite ligand and erythrocyte receptor interactions. These interactions are mediated by Region II of the P. falciparum erythrocyte binding ligands. Although invasion does not seem dependent upon a singular ligand, their individual contributions to the invasion process are yet to be explained. In this study, Region II of P. falciparum binding ligands BAEBL and JESEBL were transiently expressed as hexahistidyl recombinant proteins in COS-1 cells. Purification by column chromatography yielded 0.52 mg of BAEBL and 0.433 mg of JESEBL. The production and purification of these recombinant hexahistidyl proteins can allow for future binding affinity and kinetic analysis that may eventually define the contributive roles of each ligand during erythrocyte invasion.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
May 2010