A CRISPR homing screen finds a chloroquine resistance transporter-like protein of the Plasmodium oocyst essential for mosquito transmission of malaria.

ABSTRACT: Genetic screens with barcoded PlasmoGEM vectors have identified thousands of Plasmodium berghei gene functions in haploid blood stages, gametocytes and liver stages. However, the formation of diploid cells by fertilisation has hindered similar research on the parasites' mosquito stages. In this study, we develop a scalable genetic system that uses barcoded gene targeting vectors equipped with a CRISPR-mediated homing mechanism to generate homozygous loss-of-function mutants after one parent introduces a modified allele into the zygote. To achieve this, we use vectors additionally expressing a target gene specific gRNA. When integrated into one of the parental alleles it directs Cas9 to the intact allele after fertilisation, leading to its disruption. This homing strategy is 90% effective a

SUBMITTER: Balakrishnan A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12022033 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature