TLRs innate immunereceptors and Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) CIDR1α-driven human polyclonal B-cell activation

► The cysteine-rich interdomain region 1α (CIDR1α) of Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) interacts with enriched human B cells. ► CIDR1α promotes TLR7 and TLR10 mRNA transcripts and sensitizes B cells to TLR9 signalling via MyD88. ► CIDR1α is able to induce the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, p38 and IKBα. ► A persistent and aberrant activation of B cells during chronic malaria may contribute to the impairment B cell functions.