Host cell deformability is linked to transmission in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

ABSTRACT: Gametocyte maturation in Plasmodium falciparum is a critical step in the transmission of malaria. While the majority of parasites proliferate asexually in red blood cells, a small fraction of parasites undergo sexual conversion and mature over 2 weeks to become competent for transmission to a mosquito vector. Immature gametocytes sequester in deep tissues while mature stages must be able to circulate, pass the spleen and present themselves to the mosquito vector in order to complete transmission. Sequestration of asexual red blood cell stage parasites has been investigated in great detail. These studies have demonstrated that induction of cytoadherence properties through specific receptor-ligand interactions coincides with a significant increase in host cell stiffness. In contrast, the adh

SUBMITTER: Aingaran M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3376226 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature