PfEMP1-membrane interactions in the presence of the mammalian receptors EPCR and ICAM1

Cerebral malaria is the most severe complication of infection by Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites. The parasites express members of the variable adhesion protein family, known as PfEMP1, onto the surface of Infected erythrocytes (IEs). We have previously established that severe outcomes of P. falciparum infection is associated with PfEMP1 binding to the human endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) and ICAM1. More recently, we have collected the Cryo-TEM the structure of the ectodomain of the HB3-var3 PfEMP1 variant (here named sHB3-var3) alone and in complex with EPCR and ICAM1. We have also collected QCM-D and NR data that showed sHB3-var3 selective affinity for lipid membranes containing anionic phospholipids. We are now interested in investigating how the binding of sHB3-var3 to EPCR and ICAM1 affect the sHB3-var3 location on the bilayer surface.