What is the function of glycophorin?
Glycophorins are rich in sialic acid, which gives the red blood cells a very hydrophilic-charged coat. This enables them to circulate without adhering to other cells or vessel walls.
What is the drug of choice for malignant malaria?
The most common antimalarial drugs include: Chloroquine phosphate. Chloroquine is the preferred treatment for any parasite that is sensitive to the drug. But in many parts of the world, parasites are resistant to chloroquine, and the drug is no longer an effective treatment.
What receptor does malaria bind to?
Red cell receptors provide unique entry points for Plasmodium parasites to initiate blood-stage malaria infection. Parasites encode distinct ligands that bind specifically to both highly abundant and low copy receptors.
Which type of molecular interaction is involved in the binding of EBA 175 and glycophorin A?
The invasion of P. falciparum merozoites into human erythrocytes requires specific ligand–receptor interactions. EBA-175 has been implicated as a ligand that binds to sialic acid residues of glycophorin A (1, 3, 4).
What type of protein is glycophorin?
Glycophorin A is a type I single-span membrane protein with an extracellular N-terminal domain that contains 1 N-linked (Asn 15) and 15 O-linked (Thr and Ser) oligosaccharide chains terminating in sialic acid residues that display negative charges on the red cell surface.
What does Band 3 protein do on red blood cells?
Band 3 protein mediates the “Chloride-Shift”, i.e., the anion exchange of Cl−/HCO3−. Because of the Chloride-Shift, red blood cells are able to recognize metabolically active tissues and to supply the minimum amount of oxygen to the tissues.
What happens to RBC in malaria?
Invasion by the malaria parasite, P. falciparum brings about extensive changes in the host red cells. These include loss of the normal discoid shape, increased rigidity of the membrane, elevated permeability to a wide variety of ionic and other species, and increased adhesiveness, most notably to endothelial surfaces.
Which antimalarial drugs cause RBC breakdown?
An example is where antimalarial oxidant drugs like primaquine damage red blood cells in Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in which the red blood cells are more susceptible to oxidative stress due to reduced NADPH production consequent to the enzyme deficiency.
