Sporozoite transcriptome

Exploring the transcriptome of the malaria sporozoite stage.

Most studies of gene expression in Plasmodium have been concerned with asexual and/or sexual erythrocytic stages. Identification and cloning of genes expressed in the preerythrocytic stages lag far behind. We have constructed a high quality cDNA library of the Plasmodium sporozoite stage by using the rodent malaria parasite P. yoelii, an important model for malaria vaccine development. The tech...

Sporozoite-Mediated Hepatocyte Wounding

Disruption of Plasmodium sporozoite transmission by depletion of sporozoite invasion-associated protein 1.

Accumulation of infectious Plasmodium sporozoites in Anopheles spp. salivary glands marks the final step of the complex development of the malaria parasite in the insect vector. Sporozoites are formed inside midgut-associated oocysts and actively egress into the mosquito hemocoel. Traversal of the salivary gland acinar cells correlates with the sporozoite's capacity to perform continuous glidin...

Plasmodium sporozoite molecular cell biology.

Plasmodium sporozoites display complex phenotypes including gliding motility and invasion of and transmigration through cells in the mosquito vector and the vertebrate host. Sporozoite studies have been difficult to perform because of technical concerns. Nevertheless, they have already provided insights into several aspects of sporozoite biology, shared in part with other apicomplexan invasive ...

Plasmodium berghei sporozoite invasion is blocked in vitro by sporozoite-immobilizing antibodies.

A monoclonal antibody directed against the circumsporozoite protein on the surface of Plasmodium berghei sporozoites inhibited sporozoite motility in vitro. These immobilized sporozoites could adhere to but not invade target cultured cells. Other sporozoite-immobilizing agents also inhibited sporozoite invasion into cultured cells and did not prevent sporozoite adherence. These results indicate...