A recent study showed that in vitro, human brain endothelial cells can phagocytose dual ICAM-1-EPCR binding IE in an ICAM-1 dependent manner, and parasites engulfed in brain endothelial cells were observed in ex vivo samples from two cerebral malaria patients [294], highlighting a novel potential pathway of endothelial cell activation or defence. The gene discussed is PROCR; the disease is cerebral malaria.