Essential genes of the parasitic apicomplexa

Oberstaller, J., Otto, T. D. , Rayner, J. C. and Adams, J. H. (2021) Essential genes of the parasitic apicomplexa. Trends in Parasitology, 37(4), pp. 304-316. (doi: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.11.007) (PMID:33419671)

Abstract

Genome-scale mutagenesis screens for genes essential for apicomplexan parasite survival have been completed in three species: Plasmodium falciparum, the major human malaria parasite, Plasmodium berghei, a model rodent malaria parasite, and the more distantly related Toxoplasma gondii, the causative agent of toxoplasmosis. These three species share 2606 single-copy orthologs, 1500 of which have essentiality data in all three screens. In this review, we explore the overlap between these datasets to define the core essential genes of the phylum Apicomplexa. We further discuss the implications of these groundbreaking studies for understanding apicomplexan parasite biology, and we identify promising areas of focus for developing new pan-apicomplexan parasite interventions.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health grants F32-AI112271 (awarded to J.O.), R01 AI094973 and R01 AI117017 (awarded to J.H.A.)
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Otto, Professor Thomas
• Authors: Oberstaller, J., Otto, T. D., Rayner, J. C., and Adams, J. H.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Research Centre: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Immunobiology
• Journal Name: Trends in Parasitology
• Publisher: Elsevier (Cell Press)
• ISSN: 1471-4922
• ISSN (Online): 1471-5007
• Published Online: 05 January 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd.
• First Published: First published in Trends in Parasitology 37(4): 304-216
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy