P.falciparum rosetting mediated by a parasite-variant erythrocyte membrane protein and complement-receptor 1

African studies show that severe malaria is linked with the ability of erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium falciparum parasite to bind uninfected erythrocytes into rosettes. A study shows that the parasite ligand for P.falciparum clone rosetting is PfEMP1 and that complement-receptor 1 is important to the formation of rosettes. The new adhesive function for PfEMP1 is described, indicating that the CR1 polymorphisms in Africans influencing erythrocyte and PfEMP1 interaction, could protect against malaria.