Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 6 displays multiple targets for naturally occurring antibodies that mediate monocyte-dependent parasite killing

Plasmodium falciparum MSP6 is a merozoite surface antigen that shows organization and sequence homologies similar to those of MSP3. Within its C-terminus conserved region, it presents some epitopes that are cross-reactive with MSP3 and others that are not, both being targets of naturally occurring antibodies that block the P. falciparum erythrocytic cycle in cooperation with monocytes.