Composition and immunogenicity of virulence complexes on the surface of erythrocytes infected with the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

Submission note: A thesis submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the School of Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering, La Trobe University, Bundoora.

Malaria is a disease that has plagued humanity for millennia and is still threatening a large part of the population on earth causing major health problems, most prominently in the developing world. The causative agent, protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium, infects a wide range of host animals, from birds and reptiles to monkeys and mice. They [sic] are more than 200 species in the Plasmodium genus and 5 of these are reported to infect humans: P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae and P. knowlesi. These are all transmitted by the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito and the most severe cases are attributed to infections with P.falciparum and less [sic] deaths confirmed from P.vivax infections.