Identification of a major rif transcript common to gametocytes and sporozoites of Plasmodium falciparum

Malaria Journal

Research

Samana Schwank¹  Sarah Sharp¹  Colin J Sutherland¹  Christian W Wang²  Steven B Mwakalinga²  Thor G Theander²  Thomas Lavstsen²  Robert W Sauerwein³  Cornelus C Hermsen³ 

[1] Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Immunology Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK;Department of International Health, Immunology, and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark;Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark;Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands;

关键词: Transcript Profile;    Infected Erythrocyte;    Mosquito Midgut;    Mature Gametocyte;    Asexual Blood Stage;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1475-2875-9-147

 received in 2010-04-26, accepted in 2010-05-28,  发布年份 2010

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe Plasmodium falciparum parasite is transmitted in its sexual gametocyte stage from man to mosquito and as asexual sporozoites from mosquito to man. Developing gametocytes sequester preferentially in the bone marrow, but mature stage gametocytes are released to the bloodstream. Sexual stage parasite surface proteins are of interest as candidate target antigens for transmission blocking vaccines.MethodsIn this study, the transcript profiles of rif and var genes, known to encode surface antigens in asexual blood stage parasites, were investigated at different stages of 3D7/NF54 gametocytogenesis and in sporozoites.ResultsGametocytes exhibited a rif transcript profile unlinked to the rif and var transcript profile of the asexual progenitors. At stage V, mature gametocytes produced high levels of a single rif gene, PF13_0006, which also dominated the rif transcript profile of sporozoites. All var genes appeared to be silenced in sporozoites.ConclusionsThe most prominent variant surface antigen transcribed in both gametocytes and sporozoites of 3D7/NF54 is a single variant of the RIFIN protein family. This discovery may lead to the identification of the parasites binding ligands responsible for the adhesion during sexual stages and potentially to novel vaccine candidates.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Wang et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2010