Expression of cloned cDNA for a major surface antigen of Plasmodium falciparum merozoites.

A cDNA library of P. falciparum was constructed. Using size-selected mRNA as a probe several clones were isolated which hybridized to mRNAs larger than 5 kilobases (kb). The cDNA insert of pFC 17, which hybridizes to 5.6-kb mRNA was expressed by fusion to anthranilate synthetase I in a plasmid expression vector. The expressed fusion protein was shown to contain epitopes of a 195-kDa protein which is the precursor to 3 major surface antigens of P. falciparum merozoites.