Journal article
Specific expression and export of the Plasmodium falciparum Gametocyte EXported Protein-5 marks the gametocyte ring stage
M Tibúrcio, MWA Dixon, O Looker, SY Younis, L Tilley, P Alano
Malaria Journal | Published : 2015
Abstract
Background: Plasmodium falciparum sexual development plays a fundamental role in the transmission and spread of malaria. The ability to generate gametocytes can be lost during culture in vitro, often associated with the loss of a subtelomeric region of chromosome 9. Gametocytogenesis starts with erythrocyte invasion by a sexually committed merozoite, but the first available specific marker of sexual differentiation appears only from 24 h post invasion. Methods: Specific antibodies and gene fusions were produced to study the timing of expression and the sub-cellular localization of the P. falciparum Gametocyte EXported Protein-5 (PfGEXP5), encoded in the subtelomeric region of chromosome 9. E..
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Awarded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Funding Acknowledgements
We thank Dr. Don Gardiner and Dr. Katharine Trenholme (QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute) for support in the production of the pHH1-PfG-EXP5-GFP plasmid; Dr. David Baker (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) for providing the GNP-A4 parasite line, Prof Robin Anders (La Trobe University), Prof Mike Ryan (Monash University) and Prof Alan Cowman (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute) for generously providing antibodies, Prof G. Girelli, Dipartimento di Biopatologia Umana, University of Rome "La Sapienza' for providing blood samples for parasite culture at ISS, Rome; Mr Leonardo Picci for mouse immunization and Ms Shannon Kenny for technical assistance. This work was supported by the EU FP7 Grant n. 242095 EVIMalaR, by a travel fellowship to MLT from the FP7 Marie Curie ISRES Grant n. 269238 OzMalNet, the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, the Australia Research Council and Grant OPP1040394 of the Global Health Program of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. MWAD was supported by an NHMRC Early career Fellowship and LT is an ARC Australian Professorial Fellow.