Malaria parasites belong to the genus Plasmodium (phylum Apicomplexa). In humans, malaria is caused by P. falciparum, P. malariae, P. ovale, P. vivax and P. knowlesi.
Currently there are nine GPI anchored proteins known or predicted to be locatedon the merozoite surface of P. falciparum, and .... surface ligands in a manner that is difficult toreproduce in vitro.