The genome of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, contains a myosin gene sequence, which bears a close homology to one of the myosin genes found in another apicomplexan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. A polyclonal antibody was generated against an expressed polypeptide of molecular mass 27,000, based on part of the deduced sequence of this myosin. The antibody reacted with the cognate ant...

The invasion of erythrocytes by Plasmodium merozoites requires specific interactions between host receptors and parasite ligands. Parasite proteins that bind erythrocyte receptors during invasion are localized in apical organelles called micronemes and rhoptries. The regulated secretion of microneme and rhoptry proteins to the merozoite surface to enable receptor binding is a critical step in t...

In mammals, the regulation of water homeostasis is mediated by the aquaporin-1 (AQP1) water channel, which localizes to the basolateral and apical membranes of the early nephron segment, and AQP2, which is translocated from intracellular vesicles to the apical membrane of collecting duct cells after vasopressin stimulation. Because a similar localization and regulation are observed in transfect...

We have investigated the controversial involvement of components of the SNARE (soluble N-ethyl maleimide-sensitive factor [NSF] attachment protein [SNAP] receptor) machinery in membrane traffic to the apical plasma membrane of polarized epithelial (MDCK) cells. Overexpression of syntaxin 3, but not of syntaxins 2 or 4, caused an inhibition of TGN to apical transport and apical recycling, and le...

Transepithelial transport of antigens and pathogens across the epithelial barrier by M cells may be a prerequisite for induction of mucosal immunity in the intestine. Efficient transport of antigens and pathogens requires adherence to M cell apical surfaces. Coupling of antigen-containing particles to the pentameric binding subunit of cholera toxin (CTB) has been proposed as a means for increas...

Generalized Modules for Membrane Antigens (GMMA) are outer membrane vesicles derived from Gram-negative bacteria that can be used to design affordable subunit vaccines. GMMA have been observed induce a potent humoral immune response in preclinical and clinical studies. In addition, studies, it has found exploited as optimal antigen carriers both protein saccharide antigens, they able promote th...

PURPOSE To identify the apical and basolateral membrane mechanisms and intracellular signaling pathways in human fetal retinal pigment epithelium (HRPE) that mediate membrane voltage and resistance changes caused by apical membrane adrenergic receptor activation. METHODS Intact sheets of RPE-choroid from human fetal eyes were mounted in a modified Ussing chamber. Ringer's solution composition...