About the Authors

Xavier Ambroggio

Affiliation Bioinformatics and Computational Biosciences Branch, Office of Cyber Infrastructure and Computational Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America

Lubin Jiang

Affiliation Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China

Joan Aebig

Affiliation Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America

Harold Obiakor

Affiliation Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America

Jan Lukszo

Affiliation Research Technologies Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America

David L. Narum

dnarum@niaid.nih.gov

Affiliation Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America

Competing Interests

The authors have read the journal’s policy and have the following conflicts: DNarum has a competing interest declared below: Narum, D.L., Sim, B.K.L. U.S. Patent Number: US 7,025,961, Anti-Plasmodium Compositions and Methods of Use. Apr. 11, 2006. Abstract: Compositions that inhibit the binding of Plasmodium falciparum to erythrocytes are provided. More particularly, antibodies specific for Plasmodium falciparum binding proteins and blocking peptides that prevent the binding of Plasmodium falciparum are included in the present invention. The methods provided utilize the antibody and peptide compositions provided herein and include methods for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of Plasmodium falciparum diseases such as malaria as well as methods for the detection of Plasmodium falciparum in biological samples and culture media. Narum, D.L., Liang, H., Fuhrmann, S., Sim, B.K.L. Patent Number: U.S. Patent Number: US 7,078,507, Synthetic Genes for Malarial Proteins and Methods of Use. Jul. 18, 2006. Abstract: Synthetic gene sequences encoding erythrocyte binding protein of a malaria pathogen for the expression of the erythrocyte binding protein. The codon composition of the synthetic gene sequences approximates the mammalian codon composition. The synthetic gene sequences are useful for incorporation into the DNA vaccine vectors, for the incorporation into various expression vectors for production of malaria proteins, or both. The synthetic genes may be modified to avoid post-translational modification of the encoded protein in hosts. Administration of the synthetic gene sequences, or the encoded protein, as an immunization agent is useful for induction of immunity against malaria, treatment of malaria, or both. This does not alter the authors’ adherence to all the PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials, as detailed online in the guide for authors.

Author Contributions

Conceived and designed the experiments: XA HO DLN. Performed the experiments: LJ JA JL HO. Analyzed the data: XA JA LJ HO JL DLN. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: XA LJ HO DLN. Wrote the paper: XA LJ HO DLN.