Involved in sporozoite infection of hepatocytes and replication therein. Present on the surface of sporozoites. Specifically expressed in liver-infective sporozoites. Not expressed in blood stages. Attenuated parasites that cannot commit to infection, even when they encounter with hepatocytes, resulting in continuous traversal of hepatocytes. Cells lacking both PBS36 and P52/PBS36P are severely affected in their capability to develop into liver stage parasites and abort development soon after invasion; possibly due to the absence of a parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM).