Isolation and Characterization of Erythrocyte and Parasite Membranes from Rhesus Red Cells Infected with P. knowlesi

Erythrocytic forms of Plasmodia synthesize glycoproteins that become exported from the parasite and its vacuole to be inserted into the host cell membrane. The best characterized protein of this category is an Mr 74 000, pI 4.8 glycoprotein, synthesized by plasmodium knowlesi, PkGP74, has immunogenic glycopeptide exposed at the external host cell membrane surface of erythrocytes infected with plasmodium knowlesi schizonts, presence of antibodies against PkGP74, correlate with immune protection of monkeys against plasmodium knowlesi. PkGP74, shares peptide and immunogenic moieties with a similar protein located in the membranes of erythrocytes infected with plasmodium falciparum.