Host sphingolipids support <i>Plasmodium berghei</i> liver stage development.

ABSTRACT: During the asymptomatic liver stage, Plasmodium resides within a parasitophorous vacuole (PV) that protects the parasite from immune clearance while also restricting nutrient exchange with its host cell. Although it is known that Plasmodium must scavenge resources from its environment, the specific nutrients sequestered and the mechanisms for transporting them to the PV are poorly understood, particularly during the liver stage. In this study, we investigated the role of host lipids and discovered that sphingolipids are critical for both Plasmodium berghei liver stage development and invasion. Specifically, exogenous C16-ceramide enhanced parasite development and nuclear replication, while sphingomyelin in the host cell membrane was essential for parasite invasion. Liv

SUBMITTER: Schroeder EA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12345201 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature