Dresden 2026 – scientific programme
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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 15: Computational Biophysics III
BP 15.5: Talk
Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 10:30–10:45, BAR/SCHÖ
Self-Assembly of KAHRP Spirals in Malaria-Infected Red Blood Cells — Devika Magan1, Michael Lanzer2, and •Ulrich S. Schwarz1 — 1Institute for Theoretical Physics, Heidelberg University — 2Center for Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg
Malaria infections alter the mechanical and adhesive properties of red blood cells (RBCs). To avoid clearance by the spleen, infected RBCs develop thousands of nanoscale protrusions called knobs, which stiffen the RBC and mediate cytoadhesion to the endothelium. A central player in this process is the exported parasite protein KAHRP. The parasite sends KAHRP to the RBC membrane skeleton, where it interacts with spectrin and actin to reorganize the local architecture. Strikingly, KAHRP also forms prominently sized spirals underneath the knobs, yet the physical principles governing their formation and how such structures might influence membrane mechanics are still not understood. In this talk, I present a coarse-grained, patchy-particle framework designed to explore how simple interaction rules can give rise to spiral formation. By tuning local binding geometry and torsional preferences, the model produces a rich variety of self-organized states, ranging from compact rings to extended curved chains. These simulations provide a starting point for connecting protein-level organization to cell-level mechanics. I will outline how this approach can be extended toward membrane-associated scenarios to investigate whether KAHRP assemblies can generate spontaneous curvature or store elastic energy - providing a path toward understanding their potential function during parasite cytoadhesion and egress.
Keywords: Malaria; Red Blood Cells; Self-assembly