Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes modulate the maturation of dendritic cells

Plasmodium falciparum, the malaria parasite, is a successful human pathogen, and specific immunity to malaria is attributed to the occurrence of cytotoxic lymphocytes or antibodies. It is shown that intact malaria-infected erythrocytes bind to dendritic cells and inhibit their maturation, reducing their ability to stimulate T cells.