A single amino acid change in the Plasmodium falciparum RH5 (PfRH5) human RBC binding sequence modifies its structure and determines species-specific binding activity

► Conserved PfRH5 High Activity Binding Peptides (HABPs) interact with RBC receptors. ► PfRH5 HABPs strongly inhibit in vitro merozoite invasion to RBCs. ► A single modification in the PfRH5 sequence modifies its specific binding to human RBCs.