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We have recently proposed a new model for antigenic variation in Plasmodium falciparum that relies on a network of partially cross-protective immune responses to orchestrate this complex immune evasion process. In addition to exhibiting prolonged oscillations of single variants that resemble the sequential dominance of immunologically distinct antigenic types, the model implies that a higher efficacy of cross-reactive immunity actually increases the length of infection while reducing severity of disease. Here, we analyse the behaviour of a reduced system under conditions of perfect synchrony between variants to demonstrate that these features of this system can be attributed to the antagonism between cross-reactive and variant-specific responses.

Original publication

DOI

10.1007/s11538-005-9041-0

Type

Journal article

Journal

Bull Math Biol

Publication Date

05/2006

Volume

68

Pages

821 - 835

Keywords

Animals, Antigenic Variation, Cross Reactions, Humans, Malaria, Falciparum, Mathematics, Models, Immunological, Plasmodium falciparum, Time Factors