Journal article
Inhibition of Plasmepsin V Activity Blocks Plasmodium falciparum Gametocytogenesis and Transmission to Mosquitoes
C Jennison, L Lucantoni, MT O'Neill, R McConville, SM Erickson, AF Cowman, BE Sleebs, VM Avery, JA Boddey
Cell Reports | CELL PRESS | Published : 2019
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes infect mosquitoes and are responsible for malaria transmission. Jennison et al. discover that the aspartyl protease plasmepsin V is essential for P. falciparum gametocyte development. The inhibition of plasmepsin V prevents P. falciparum infection of mosquitoes, validating this enzyme as a transmission-blocking drug target.
Grants
Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Acknowledgements
We thank the Australian Red Cross for the erythrocytes; Sash Lopaticki, Svenja Gunther, Annie Yang, Michelle Gazdik, and Lachlan Whitehead for technical assistance; and Matthew Dixon and Pietro Alano for the GEXP05-GFP parasites. This work was supported by NHMRC project grants (1010326 and 1049811), the Cass Foundation (Science and Medicine Grant SM/6430), Victorian State Government Operational Infrastructure Support, and Australian Government NHMRC IRIISS. A.F.C. is a Howard Hughes International Scholar, B.E.S. is an Ellen Corin Centenary Fellow, and J.A.B. is an NHMRC R.D. Wright Fellow.