Editing Plasmodium falciparum (section)

===Immune system evasion===
Although ''P. falciparum'' is easily recognized by the human immune system while in the bloodstream, it evades immunity by producing over 2,000 cell membrane antigens.<ref name=florens>{{cite journal|last1=Florens|first1=Laurence|last2=Washburn|first2=Michael P.|last3=Raine|first3=J. Dale|last4=Anthony|first4=Robert M.|last5=Grainger|first5=Munira|last6=Haynes|first6=J. David|last7=Moch|first7=J. Kathleen|last8=Muster|first8=Nemone|last9=Sacci|first9=John B.|last10=Tabb|first10=David L.|last11=Witney|first11=Adam A.|last12=Wolters|first12=Dirk|last13=Wu|first13=Yimin|last14=Gardner|first14=Malcolm J.|last15=Holder|first15=Anthony A.|last16=Sinden|first16=Robert E.|last17=Yates|first17=John R.|last18=Carucci|first18=Daniel J.|title=A proteomic view of the ''Plasmodium falciparum'' life cycle|journal=Nature|date=3 October 2002|volume=419|issue=6906|pages=520–526|doi=10.1038/nature01107|pmid=12368866|display-authors=8|bibcode=2002Natur.419..520F|s2cid=4412848|doi-access=free}}</ref> The initial infective stage sporozoites produce circumsporozoite protein (CSP), which binds to hepatocytes.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Cerami|first1=Carla|last2=Frevert|first2=Ute|last3=Sinnis|first3=Photini|last4=Takacs|first4=Bela|last5=Clavijo|first5=Pedro|last6=Santos|first6=Manuel J.|last7=Nussenzweig|first7=Victor|title=The basolateral domain of the hepatocyte plasma membrane bears receptors for the circumsporozoite protein of ''Plasmodium falciparum'' sporozoites|journal=Cell|date=1992|volume=70|issue=6|pages=1021–1033|doi=10.1016/0092-8674(92)90251-7|pmid=1326407|s2cid=8825913}}</ref> Binding to and entering into the hepatocytes is aided by thrombospondin-related anonymous protein (TRAP).<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Baldacci|first1=Patricia|last2=Ménard|first2=Robert|title=The elusive malaria sporozoite in the mammalian host|journal=Molecular Microbiology|date=2004|volume=54|issue=2|pages=298–306|doi=10.1111/j.1365-2958.2004.04275.x|pmid=15469504|s2cid=30488807|doi-access=free}}</ref> TRAP and other secretory proteins (including sporozoite microneme protein essential for cell traversal 1, SPECT1 and SPECT2) from microneme allow the sporozoite to move through the blood, avoiding immune cells and penetrating hepatocytes.<ref name="vaughan">{{cite journal|last1=Vaughan|first1=Ashley M.|last2=Aly|first2=Ahmed S.I.|last3=Kappe|first3=Stefan H.I.|title=Malaria Parasite Pre-Erythrocytic Stage Infection: Gliding and Hiding|journal=Cell Host & Microbe|date=2008|volume=4|issue=3|pages=209–218|doi=10.1016/j.chom.2008.08.010|pmid=18779047|pmc=2610487}}</ref>

During erythrocyte invasion, merozoites release merozoite cap protein-1 (MCP1), apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1), erythrocyte-binding antigens (EBA), myosin A tail domain interacting protein (MTIP), and [[merozoite surface protein]]s (MSPs).<ref name=florens/> Of these MSPs, MSP1 and MSP2 are primarily responsible for avoiding immune cells.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Satchwell|first1=T. J.|title=Erythrocyte invasion receptors for ''Plasmodium falciparum'': new and old|journal=Transfusion Medicine|date=2016|volume=26|issue=2|pages=77–88|doi=10.1111/tme.12280|pmid=26862042|hdl=1983/2945cc98-49e8-4c37-a392-88e35fab588c|s2cid=7811400|url=https://research-information.bristol.ac.uk/en/publications/erythrocyte-invasion-receptors-for-plasmodium-falciparum(2945cc98-49e8-4c37-a392-88e35fab588c).html|hdl-access=free}}</ref> The virulence of ''P. falciparum'' is mediated by erythrocyte membrane proteins, which are produced by the schizonts and trophozoites inside the erythrocytes and are displayed on the erythrocyte membrane. [[PfEMP1]] is the most important, capable of acting as both an antigen and an adhesion molecule.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Lalchhandama|first1=Kholhring|title=''Plasmodium falciparum'' erythrocyte membrane protein 1|journal=WikiJournal of Medicine|date=2017|volume=4|issue=1|pages=1–8|doi=10.15347/wjm/2017.004|doi-access=free}}</ref>