Plasmodium falciparum is the most lethal human malaria parasite causing placental malaria. It is well-known that pregnant women have a higher risk of being infected and placental malaria is estimated to result in 900,000 low birth weight deliveries each year in Africa alone. However, after exposure to malaria during pregnancy, women develop antibodies against VAR2CSA, a plasmodium falciparum protein. Therefore, VAR2CSA is utilized in the development of vaccines protecting pregnant women.

The discovery enables the development of more effective malaria vaccines
In a recent study published in Nature Communications, a team from the University of Copenhagen, present their discoveries on the VAR2CSA protein's structure and its interactions with the glycosaminoglycan chondroitin sulfate A (CS). Their observations enable the design of new VAR2CSA-based placental malaria vaccines, providing hope for a vaccine eliciting a broadly reactive, parasite binding inhibiting antibodies.

Attana's contribution
Throughout the research process the researchers have used Attana's Cell[TM] 250 biosensor technology for kinetic analysis of the VAR2CSA binding to glycosaminoglycan chondroitin sulfate (CS). Attana is proud to have been able to contribute to this important topic of study and look forward to future collaborations and discoveries.

The entire study can be found here (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-23254-1).