Targeting Gametocytes of the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum in a Functional Genomics Era: Next Steps

Chawla, Jyotsna; Oberstaller, Jenna; Adams, John H.

doi:10.3390/pathogens10030346

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Targeting Gametocytes of the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum in a Functional Genomics Era: Next Steps

by

Jyotsna Chawla

¹,

Jenna Oberstaller

² and

John H. Adams

^2,*

¹

Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, MDC 7, Tampa, FL 33612, USA

²

Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research and USF Genomics Program, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Blvd, Suite 404, Tampa, FL 33612, USA

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Pathogens 2021, 10(3), 346; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10030346

Submission received: 8 February 2021 / Revised: 25 February 2021 / Accepted: 3 March 2021 / Published: 16 March 2021

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Host-Parasite Interactions during Malaria Transmission)

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Abstract

Mosquito transmission of the deadly malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is mediated by mature sexual forms (gametocytes). Circulating in the vertebrate host, relatively few intraerythrocytic gametocytes are picked up during a bloodmeal to continue sexual development in the mosquito vector. Human-to-vector transmission thus represents an infection bottleneck in the parasite’s life cycle for therapeutic interventions to prevent malaria. Even though recent progress has been made in the identification of genetic factors linked to gametocytogenesis, a plethora of genes essential for sexual-stage development are yet to be unraveled. In this review, we revisit P. falciparum transmission biology by discussing targetable features of gametocytes and provide a perspective on a forward-genetic approach for identification of novel transmission-blocking candidates in the future.

Keywords: gametocyte biology; sexual stages; forward genetic screens; transmission-blocking candidates

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MDPI and ACS Style

Chawla, J.; Oberstaller, J.; Adams, J.H. Targeting Gametocytes of the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum in a Functional Genomics Era: Next Steps. Pathogens 2021, 10, 346. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10030346

AMA Style

Chawla J, Oberstaller J, Adams JH. Targeting Gametocytes of the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum in a Functional Genomics Era: Next Steps. Pathogens. 2021; 10(3):346. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10030346

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chawla, Jyotsna, Jenna Oberstaller, and John H. Adams. 2021. "Targeting Gametocytes of the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum in a Functional Genomics Era: Next Steps" Pathogens 10, no. 3: 346. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10030346

APA Style

Chawla, J., Oberstaller, J., & Adams, J. H. (2021). Targeting Gametocytes of the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum in a Functional Genomics Era: Next Steps. Pathogens, 10(3), 346. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10030346

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

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Targeting Gametocytes of the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum in a Functional Genomics Era: Next Steps

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