Basigin Interacts with Plasmodium vivax Tryptophan-rich Antigen PvTRAg38 as a Second Erythrocyte Receptor to Promote Parasite Growth

Elucidating the molecular mechanisms of the host-parasite interaction during red cell invasion by Plasmodium is important for developing newer antimalarial therapeutics. Recently, we have characterized a Plasmodium vivax tryptophan-rich antigen PvTRAg38, which is expressed by its merozoites, binds to host erythrocytes, and interferes with parasite growth. Interaction of this parasite ligand with the host erythrocyte occurs through its two regions present at amino acid positions 167-178 (P-2) and 197-208 (P-4). Each region recognizes its own erythrocyte receptor. Previously, we identified band 3 as the chymotrypsin-sensitive erythrocyte receptor for the P-4 region, but the other receptor, binding to P-2 region, remained unknown. Here, we have identified basigin as the second erythrocyte receptor for PvTRAg38, which is resistant to chymotrypsin. The specificity of interaction between PvTRAg38 and basigin was confirmed by direct interaction where basigin was specifically recognized by P-2 and not by the P-4 region of this parasite ligand. Interaction between P-2 and basigin is stabilized through multiple amino acid residues, but Gly-171 and Leu-175 of P-2 were more critical. These two amino acids were also critical for parasite growth. Synthetic peptides P-2 and P-4 of PvTRAg38 interfered with the parasite growth independently but had an additive effect if combined together indicating involvement of both the receptors during red cell invasion. In conclusion, PvTRAg38 binds to two erythrocyte receptors basigin and band 3 through P-2 and P-4 regions, respectively, to facilitate parasite growth. This advancement in our knowledge on molecular mechanisms of host-parasite interaction can be exploited to develop therapeutics against P. vivax malaria.