The most recent vaccine research has focused on understanding a group of proteins in the erythrocyte-binding ligand (EBL) family. These proteins, which are found in the Plasmodium species, facilitate entry into erythrocytes during malarial infection by creating tight junctions between the host erythrocytes and parasite membranes. There are four family members: erythrocyte-binding antigen 175 (PfEBA-175), erythrocyte-binding ligand 1 (PfEBL-1), erythrocyte-binding antigen 140 (PfEBA-140), and erythrocyte-binding antigen 181 (PfEBA-181).