The Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) family has a key role
in parasite survival, transmission, and virulence. PfEMP1 are exported to the erythrocyte
membrane and mediate binding of infected erythrocytes to the endothelial lining of blood
vessels. This process aids parasite survival by avoiding spleen-dependent killing
mechanisms, but it is associated with adhesion-based disease complications. Switching
between PfEMP1 proteins enables parasites to evade host immunity and modifies parasite …