Vivax Malaria and the Potential Role of the Subtelomeric Multigene Superfamily.

Vivax malaria, caused by , remains a public health concern in Central and Southeast Asia and South America, with more than two billion people at risk of infection. Compared to , is considered a benign infection. However, in recent decades, incidences of severe vivax malaria have been confirmed. The erythrocyte membrane protein 1 family encoded by genes is known as a mediator of severe falciparum malaria by cytoadherence property. Correspondingly, the multigene superfamily has been identified as the largest multigene family in and is implicated in cytoadherence to endothelial cells and immune response activation. In this review, the functions of genes are reviewed in the context of their potential roles in severe vivax malaria.