Erythrocyte invasion by malaria (Plasmodium falciparum) merozoites: recent advances in the evaluation of receptor sites.

Recent advances in the understanding of the cellular, biochemical and molecular aspects of the highly specific interactions between P. falciparum merozoites and human red blood cells are summarized. Special attention is given to glycophorins A, B and C as receptors of invasion and to the role of carbohydrates and internal domains of glycophorin A, such as the Wrb antigen, as receptor site. Video pictures displaying the liberation of merozoites from schizont-infected red blood cells and the invasion of human erythrocytes by P. falciparum merozoites are also provided.