<i>Plasmodium berghei</i> rhoptry neck protein 6 maintains parasite infectivity and virulence.

ABSTRACT: Apicomplexan parasites possess unique secretory organelles called rhoptries, which are reservoirs for rhoptry neck proteins (RONs) and rhoptry bulb proteins (ROPs) that aid in host cell attachment, invasion, and intracellular proliferation. In Plasmodium falciparum, the RON6 (PfRON6) locus is indispensable, limiting its functional investigation. Using a rodent malaria model, we show the role of P. berghei RON6 (PbRON6), a putative ortholog of PfRON6, in the invasion of RBC, hepatocytes, and during liver stage development. PbRON6 localizes to the sporozoite membrane and has an extracellular C-terminal domain. RON6-depleted parasites fail to maintain infectivity and virulence, leading to prolonged survival of mice. The mutants induce chronic malaria and hyp

SUBMITTER: Narahari V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12607912 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature