Basal and starvation-induced autophagy mediates parasite survival during intraerythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum.

ABSTRACT: The precise role of autophagy in P. falciparum remains largely unknown. Although a limited number of autophagy genes have been identified in this apicomplexan, only PfAtg8 has been characterized to a certain extent. On the basis of the expression levels of PfAtg8 and the putative PfAtg5, we report that the basal autophagy in this parasite is quite robust and mediates not only the intraerythrocytic development but also fresh invasion of red blood cells (RBCs) in the subsequent cycles. We demonstrate that the basal autophagy responds to both inducers and inhibitors of autophagy. In addition, the parasite survival upon starvation is temporally governed by the autophagy status. Brief periods of starvation, which induces autophagy, help survival while prolonged starv

SUBMITTER: Joy S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6170468 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature