Conditional mutagenesis using site-specific recombination in Plasmodium berghei.

ABSTRACT: Reverse genetics in Plasmodium, the genus of parasites that cause malaria, still faces major limitations. Only red blood cell stages of this haploid parasite can be transfected. Consequently, the function of many essential genes in these and subsequent stages, including those encoding vaccine candidates, cannot be addressed genetically. Here, we establish conditional mutagenesis in Plasmodium by using site-specific recombination and the Flp/FRT system of yeast. Site-specific recombination is induced after cross-fertilization in the mosquito vector of two clones containing either the target sequence flanked by two FRT sites or the Flp recombinase. Parasites that have undergone recombination are recognized in the cross progeny through the expression of a fluorescence marker. This approach sh

SUBMITTER: Carvalho TG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC522007 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature