Identification of three novel plasmodium factors involved in ookinete to oocyst developmental transition
Author(s)
Ukegbu, Chiamaka V
Christophides, George K
Vlachou, Dina
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum malaria remains a major cause of global morbidity and mortality, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. The numbers of new malaria cases and deaths have been stable in the last years despite intense efforts for disease elimination, highlighting the need for new approaches to stop disease transmission. Further understanding of the parasite transmission biology could provide a framework for the development of such approaches. We phenotypically and functionally characterized three novel genes, PIMMS01, PIMMS57, and PIMMS22, using targeted disruption of their orthologs in the rodent parasite Plasmodium berghei. PIMMS01 and PIMMS57 are specifically and highly expressed in ookinetes, while PIMMS22 transcription starts already in gametocytes and peaks in sporozoites. All three genes show strong phenotypes associated with the ookinete to oocyst transition, as their disruption leads to very low numbers of oocysts and complete abolishment of transmission. PIMMS22 has a secondary essential function in the oocyst. Our results enrich the molecular understanding of the parasite-vector interactions and identify PIMMS01, PIMMS57, and PIMMS22 as new targets of transmission blocking interventions.
Date Issued
2021-03-15
Date Acceptance
2021-02-10
Citation
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 2021, 11, pp.1-17
ISSN
2235-2988
Publisher
Frontiers Media
Start Page
1
End Page
17
Journal / Book Title
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
Volume
11
Copyright Statement
© 2021 Ukegbu, Christophides and Vlachou. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
License URL
Sponsor
Commission of the European Communities
Wellcome Trust
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000634278500001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
223736
107983/Z/15/Z
OPP1158151
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Immunology
Microbiology
ookinete development
malaria transmission
ookinete to oocyst transition
mosquito midgut invasion
Plasmodium sporogonic development
vector-parasite interactions
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 634273
Date Publish Online
2021-03-15