The transcriptome of circulating sexually committed Plasmodium falciparum ring stage parasites forecasts malaria transmission potential.

ABSTRACT: Malaria is spread by the transmission of sexual stage parasites, called gametocytes. However, with Plasmodium falciparum, gametocytes can only be detected in peripheral blood when they are mature and transmissible to a mosquito, which complicates control efforts. Here, we identify the set of genes overexpressed in patient blood samples with high levels of gametocyte-committed ring stage parasites. Expression of all 18 genes is regulated by transcription factor AP2-G, which is required for gametocytogenesis. We select three genes, not expressed in mature gametocytes, to develop as biomarkers. All three biomarkers we validate in vitro using 6 different parasite lines and develop an algorithm that predicts gametocyte production in ex vivo samples and volunteer infection studies. The biomarker

SUBMITTER: Prajapati SK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7710746 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature