malaria
Letter to the Editor | Host-Microbe BiologyFurther Mechanisms and Locations in Which Antisporozoite Antibodies Neutralize Malaria Sporozoites
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyAnopheles Salivary Gland Architecture Shapes Plasmodium Sporozoite Availability for TransmissionMalaria continues to have a devastating impact on human health. With growing resistance to insecticides and antimalarial drugs, as well as climate change predictions indicating expansion of vector territories, the impact of malaria is likely to increase. Additional insights regarding pathogen migration through vector mosquitoes are needed to develop novel methods to prevent transmission to new hosts. Pathogens, including the microbes...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyDissecting the Gene Expression, Localization, Membrane Topology, and Function of the Plasmodium falciparum STEVOR Protein FamilyMalaria claims about half a million lives each year. Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of the most severe form of the disease, uses proteins that are translocated to the surface of infected erythrocytes for immune evasion. To circumvent the detection of these gene products by the immune system, the parasite evolved a complex strategy that includes gene...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyDeletion of Plasmodium falciparum Protein RON3 Affects the Functional Translocation of Exported Proteins and Glucose UptakeThe malarial parasite within the erythrocyte is surrounded by two membranes. Plasmodium translocon of exported proteins (PTEX) in the parasite vacuolar membrane critically transports proteins from the parasite to the erythrocytic cytosol and membrane to create protein infrastructure important for virulence. The components of PTEX are stored within the dense granule, which is secreted from the parasite during invasion. We now...
Observation | Host-Microbe BiologyIs Anopheles gambiae a Natural Host of Wolbachia?Anopheles gambiae mosquitos are the main vectors of malaria, threatening around half of the world’s population. The bacterial symbiont Wolbachia can interfere with disease transmission by other important insect vectors, but until recently, it was thought to be absent from natural A. gambiae populations. Here, we critically analyze the genomic,...
Research Article | Ecological and Evolutionary ScienceGlobal Spread of Mutant PfCRT and Its Pleiotropic Impact on Plasmodium falciparum Multidrug Resistance and FitnessOur study defines the allelic distribution of pfcrt, an important mediator of multidrug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum, in Africa and Asia. We leveraged whole-genome sequence analysis and gene editing to demonstrate how current drug combinations can select different allelic variants of this gene and shape region-specific parasite population structures....
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyMeta-analysis of Plasmodium falciparum var Signatures Contributing to Severe Malaria in African Children and Indian AdultsP. falciparum malaria can cause multiple disease complications that differ by patient age. Previous studies have attempted to address the roles of parasite adhesion and biomass in disease severity; however, these studies have been limited to single geographical sites, and there is limited understanding of how parasite adhesion and biomass interact to influence disease...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyUsing Lipoamidase as a Novel Probe To Interrogate the Importance of Lipoylation in Plasmodium falciparumLipoate is an essential cofactor for a small number of enzymes that are important for central metabolism. Malaria parasites require lipoate scavenged from the human host for growth and survival; however, it is not known why this cofactor is so important. To address this question, we designed a probe of lipoate activity based on the bacterial enzyme lipoamidase (Lpa). Expression of this probe in different subcellular locations allowed us...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyAntibody-Mediated Protection against Plasmodium Sporozoites Begins at the Dermal Inoculation SiteStudies in experimental animal models and humans have shown that antibodies against Plasmodium sporozoites abolish parasite infectivity and provide sterile immunity. While it is well documented that these antibodies can be induced after immunization with attenuated parasites or subunit vaccines, the mechanisms by and location in which they neutralize parasites have...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologySuppression of Drug Resistance Reveals a Genetic Mechanism of Metabolic Plasticity in Malaria ParasitesUnique and essential aspects of parasite metabolism are excellent targets for development of new antimalarials. An improved understanding of parasite metabolism and drug resistance mechanisms is urgently needed. The antibiotic fosmidomycin targets the synthesis of essential isoprenoid compounds from glucose and is a candidate for antimalarial development. Our report identifies a novel mechanism of drug resistance and further describes a...