Specificity in Host-Parasite Interaction

Cell Biology

“…This g r a n u l a r coat ( L a d d a , 1969) is not b o u n d b y C a 2+ ions a n d contains g a m m aglobulins a n d little sialic acid. T h e s e a u t h o r s suggest t h a t the coating inhibits re-invasion (but n o t erythrocyte recognition) b y agglutination of t h e merozoites, b u t it is difficult to u n d e r s t a n d h o w t h e receptor molecules in the merozoite coat are c a p a b l e of recognizing the erythrocyte t h r o u g h the a d d i t i o n a l thick surface layers unless, as suggested b y Brown (1976), antibodies against these molecules are of such low avidity t h a t t h e y m a y be competitively displaced b y e r y t h r ocyte receptors. T h e s e a u t h o r s suggest t h a t the coating inhibits re-invasion (but n o t erythrocyte recognition) b y agglutination of t h e merozoites, b u t it is difficult to u n d e r s t a n d h o w t h e receptor molecules in the merozoite coat are c a p a b l e of recognizing the erythrocyte t h r o u g h the a d d i t i o n a l thick surface layers unless, as suggested b y Brown (1976), antibodies against these molecules are of such low avidity t h a t t h e y m a y be competitively displaced b y e r y t h r ocyte receptors.…”