A 46,000 dalton glycoprotein was isolated by extraction of freshly harvested P. falciparum merozoites (FCB1 strain), followed by gel electrophoresis of the extract and electroelution. The antigen is present in the late ring, trophozoite, schizont, and segmenter stages and is localized on the merozoite surface at the end of schizogony. It is not related to the 185,000-195,000 dalton schizont antigen. An antiserum against the 46,000 dalton antigen inhibits invasion of erythrocytes by merozoites. The isolated antigen is identical to the antigen against which monoclonal antibody (mcab) 13.4 is directed.
The 80,000 dalton merozoite surface protein, derived from the 185,000-195,000 dalton schizont precursor, was isolated from detergent extracts of naturally-released merozoites using chromatographic procedures. A rabbit antiserum raised against this antigen was used for characterizing the 80,000 dalton fragment. The antiserum did not inhibit merozoite invasion or parasite growth in vitro, suggesting that this merozoite surface antigen is not directly involved in the invasion process of the merozoite into the host erythrocyte.
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