Benoît Gamain

FIKK1, a member of the FIKK kinase family, phosphorylates VAR2CSA and regulates adhesion of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes to the placental receptor CSA

This study identifies FIKK1 as a kinase that phosphorylates VAR2CSA, enhancing its binding to CSA and promoting placental malaria virulence.

Taurine is a Natural Host Cytoadhesion Inhibitor in Asymptomatic Malaria Cases

This study identifies taurine as a host metabolite that inhibits malaria parasite cytoadhesion in asymptomatic infections, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target.

Casein Kinases 2-dependent phosphorylation of the placental ligand VAR2CSA regulates Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes cytoadhesion

This study identifies Casein Kinase 2 as the kinase responsible for phosphorylating VAR2CSA, enhancing its CSA binding and infected erythrocyte adhesion.

Duffy Antigen Expression in Erythroid Bone Marrow Precursor Cells of Genotypically Duffy Negative Individuals

The paper investigates Fy expression in Fy-negative individuals, finding that the GATA-1 SNP does not fully abolish Fy protein expression in erythroid progenitors, suggesting potential susceptibility to P. vivax malaria.