Parasite Factors: VSA

Question 1

what are VSA

Answer 1

variant surface antigens

essential to the pathogenenesis and immune evasion of Falciparum

Question 2

what are the 4 main families of VSA

Answer 2

SAs expressed during the blood stage of P. falciparum:

PfEMP1, encoded by 60 var genes;

RIFINs, encoded by 150–200 rif genes;

(SURFINs), encoded by 10 surf genes; and

STEVOR, encoded by 30– 40 stevor genes.”