The 42-kilodalton rhoptry-associated protein of Plasmodium falciparum.

The gene coding for a 42-kDa rhoptry protein of Plasmodium falciparum has been cloned. On the basis of prior monkey vaccination studies, this protein is regarded as an important vaccine candidate, but its identity has been the subject of considerable uncertainty. Analysis of the cloned sequence shows that it is a basic, hydrophobic protein, without repetitive elements, unrelated to any of the previously postulated gene products and shows minimal sequence diversity. The availability of the corresponding recombinant protein will enable studies of its efficacy in human vaccine trials to be undertaken.