Clag (cytoadherence linked asexual gene) is a malaria surface protein which has been shown to be involved in the binding of Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes to host endothelial cells, a process termed cytoadherence. The cytoadherence phenomenon is associated with the sequestration of infected erythrocytes in the blood vessels of the brain, cerebral malaria. Clag is a multi-gene family in Plasmodium falciparum with at least 9 members identified to date. Orthologous proteins in the rodent malaria species Plasmodium chabaudi (Lawson D Unpubl. obs.) suggest that the gene family is found in other malaria species and may play a more generic role in cytoadherence.

1: The cytoadherence linked asexual gene family of Plasmodium falciparum: are there roles other than cytoadherence? Holt DC, Gardiner DL, Thomas EA, Mayo M, Bourke PF, Sutherland CJ, Carter R, Myers G, Kemp DJ, Trenholme KR; Int J Parasitol 1999;29:939-944. PMID:10480731

2: Cytoadherence, pathogenesis and the infected red cell surface in Plasmodium falciparum. Newbold C, Craig A, Kyes S, Rowe A, Fernandez-Reyes D, Fagan T; Int J Parasitol 1999;29:927-937. PMID:10480730