# HOST-PARASITE INTERACTIONS IN MALARIA

> **NIH NIH R01** · PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH INSTITUTE · 1987 · $262,956

## Abstract

The broad objectives of our program have been the characterization of
polypeptides which may have physiological and immunological importance for
the establishment and survival of malaria parasites in their hosts.

The know protein (KP) of Plasmodium falciparum interacts with the host
erythrocyte membrane and induces membrane protrusions called knobs.  These
protrusions are essential for the survival of this parasite in the host.
The objectives of this project are:  (1)  To identify the structural
domain(s) of the KP of one isolate of P. falciparum which are involved in
the induction of knobs.  (2)  To determine whether these domains are
conserved in other geographical isolates as well as in a different species
of malaria which induces knobs and (3)  To determine whether these domains
are immunogenic in man.  To achieve these objectives, KP and its peptides
will be expressed in yeast and E. coli.  The expressed polypeptides will be
tested for reactivity with specific cytoskeletal proteins of the host
erythrocyte membrane and with immune human sera.  The conserved sequences
of KP will be identified by analysis of the KP gene of different
geographical isolates of P. falciparum and that of Plasmodium brasilianum.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3129287
- **Project number:** 2R01AI019845-05
- **Recipient organization:** PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** ARAXIE KILEJIAN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $262,956
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1982-09-01 → 1991-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3129287

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3129287, HOST-PARASITE INTERACTIONS IN MALARIA (2R01AI019845-05). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3129287. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*