Abstract: Malaria, a parasitic disease caused by infection with the species of Plasmodium and transmitted by Anopheles mosquito bites, is one of the major public health challenges that seriously threaten human health. Malaria parasites present diverse immune escape strategies to escape from the recognition and clearance of the host immune system, which poses a great challenge to the malaria control programme. This review presents the advances in the mechanisms underlying the immune escape of Plasmodium, including antigenic variation, epigenetic regulation, antagonism against IgM antibody, activation of the cyclic guanosine monophosphate⁃adenosine monophosphate (GMP⁃AMP) synthase⁃stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS⁃STING) signaling, suppression of splenic immune functions, and molecular camouflage, so as to provide insights into development of malaria vaccines and antimalarial agents and formulation of the malaria control strategy. 

Key words: Plasmodium, Immune escape, Antigen, Epigenetic modification

摘要： 疟疾是一种由疟原虫感染引起的寄生虫病，主要通过按蚊叮咬传播，是当前严重威胁人类生命健康的重大公共卫生挑战之一。疟原虫为逃避宿主免疫系统的识别和清除，进化出多变的免疫逃逸策略，给疟疾防控工作带来了挑战。本文综述了疟原虫抗原变异、表观遗传调控、拮抗IgM抗体、激活环磷酸鸟苷⁃腺苷酸合成酶（cyclic GMP⁃AMP synthase，cGAS）⁃干扰素刺激基因（stimulator of interferon genes，STING）信号通路、抑制脾脏免疫功能和分子伪装等免疫逃逸机制的研究进展，旨在为疟疾疫苗和抗疟药物研发以及疟疾防治策略制定提供参考。

关键词: 疟原虫, 免疫逃逸, 抗原, 表观遗传调控