Ensuring transmission through dynamic host environments: host–pathogen interactions in Plasmodium sexual development

Dantzler, K. W., Ravel, D. B., Brancucci, N. M. and Marti, M. (2015) Ensuring transmission through dynamic host environments: host–pathogen interactions in Plasmodium sexual development. Current Opinion in Microbiology, 26, pp. 17-23. (doi: 10.1016/j.mib.2015.03.005) (PMID:25867628) (PMCID:PMC4577303)

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Abstract

A renewed global commitment to malaria elimination lends urgency to understanding the biology of Plasmodium transmission stages. Recent progress toward uncovering the mechanisms underlying Plasmodium falciparum sexual differentiation and maturation reveals potential targets for transmission-blocking drugs and vaccines. The identification of parasite factors that alter sexual differentiation, including extracellular vesicles and a master transcriptional regulator, suggest that parasites make epigenetically controlled developmental decisions based on environmental cues. New insights into sexual development, especially host cell remodeling and sequestration in the bone marrow, highlight open questions regarding parasite homing to the tissue, transmigration across the vascular endothelium, and maturation in the parenchyma. Novel molecular and translational tools will provide further opportunities to define host–parasite interactions and design effective transmission-blocking therapeutics.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Marti, Professor Matthias
Authors: Dantzler, K. W., Ravel, D. B., Brancucci, N. M., and Marti, M.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
Journal Name:Current Opinion in Microbiology
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:1369-5274
ISSN (Online):1879-0364
Published Online:09 April 2015

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