Louis H. Miller, M.D.
Chief, Malaria Cell Biology Section
Description of Research Program
The study of the pathogenesis of malaria includes studies on the mechanism by which malaria parasites invade erythrocytes (including the study of parasite ligands and erythrocyte receptors), the mechanism of antigenic variation, the molecular basis for cerebral malaria and rosetting, and the physiologic basis of vacuole formation.
Major accomplishments include the following: Duffy blood group antigen is receptor for P. vivax; Duffy blood group antigen is the chemokine receptor; the molecular definition of the ligand and receptor for P. vivax; the molecular definition of the ligand and receptor for P. falciparum; and the molecular basis of antigenic variation.
Future directions include the study of the different pathways for invasion of erythrocytes, including the sialic acid-independent pathway and the glycophorin B-dependent pathway; identification of the molecular basis of rosetting and the receptors on erythrocytes for rosettes; virulence factors in P. falciparum; and the molecular basis of cytoadherence.
Awards
Presidential Award, Paul Ehrlich Prize.
Memberships
- Association of American Physicians
- American Society of Clinical Investigation
- American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
- Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
- National Academy of Science
- Institute of Medicine
Editorial Boards
- The Journal of Experimental Medicine
- Molecular Medicine
Research Group Members
Dror Baruch, Benoit Gamain, Sanjay Desai, Gangadharan Subramania
Selected Recent Publication
To view a complete listing, visit PubMed.
Chitnis, C.E. and Miller, L.H. Identification of the erythrocyte binding domains of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium knowlesi proteins involved in erythrocyte invasion. Journal of Experimental Medicine. 180: 497-506, 1994.
Miller, L.H. Impact of malaria on genetic polymorphism and genetic diseases in Africans and African Americans. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. 91: 2415-2419, 1994.
Miller, L.H., Good, M.F., and Milon, G. Malaria pathogenesis. Science. 264: 1878-1883, 1994.
Sim, B.K.L., Chitnis, C.E., Wasniowski, T.J., Hadley, T.J., and Miller, L.H. Receptor and ligand domains for Plasmodium falciparum malaria invasion of erythrocytes. Science. 264: 1941-1944, 1994.
Smith, J.D., Chitnis, C.E., Craig, A.G., Roberts, D.J., Hudson-Taylor, D.E., Peterson, D.S., Pinches, R., Newbold, C.I., and Miller, L.H. Switches in expression of Plasmodium falciparum var genes correlate with changes in antigenic and cytoadherent phenotypes of infected erythroctyes. Cell. 82: 101-110, 1995.
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