Transcriptional heterogeneity and tightly regulated changes in gene expression during Plasmodium berghei sporozoite development.

ABSTRACT: Despite the critical role of Plasmodium sporozoites in malaria transmission, we still know little about the mechanisms underlying their development in mosquitoes. Here, we use single-cell RNA sequencing to characterize the gene expression profiles of 16,038 Plasmodium berghei sporozoites isolated throughout their development from midgut oocysts to salivary glands, and from forced salivation experiments. Our results reveal a succession of tightly regulated changes in gene expression occurring during the maturation of sporozoites and highlight candidate genes that could play important roles in oocyst egress, sporozoite motility, and the mechanisms underlying the invasion of mosquito salivary glands and mammalian hepatocytes. In addition, the single-cell data reveal extensive transcriptional

SUBMITTER: Bogale HN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7958459 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature