Dd2 parasites are not wholly dependent on the EBA-175/GPA pathway of invasion.

Abstract

<p>In the presence of anti-EBA-175_RII antibodies (<b>A</b>; black bars), inhibition when using the Dd2 strain is only 60% (Ab concentration of100 µg/mL), compared to 55% inhibition from 3D7, suggesting alternative SA dependent pathways are utilized by Dd2, such as EBL-1/GPB or EBA-140/GPC (for <b>A</b>, <b>B</b> and <b>C</b>, Dd2 with its control IgG shown as solid white bars). Although anti-rRH5 antibodies (<b>B</b>; blue bars), should only block a SA independent pathway, there is still greater inhibition with Dd2 compared to 3D7. In the presence of both antibodies (<b>C</b>; anti-EBA-175_RII/rRH5 shown as red bars and anti-EBA-175_RII+anti-rRH5 shown as green bars, respectively), there is a significant difference in the ability of Dd2 to invade compared to 3D7, especially when individual antibodies are combined.</p