Using scRNA-seq to Identify Transcriptional Variation in the Malaria Parasite Ookinete Stage.

ABSTRACT: The crossing of the mosquito midgut epithelium by the malaria parasite motile ookinete form represents the most extreme population bottleneck in the parasite life cycle and is a prime target for transmission blocking strategies. However, we have little understanding of the clonal variation that exists in a population of ookinetes in the vector, partially because the parasites are difficult to access and are found in low numbers. Within a vector, variation may result as a response to specific environmental cues or may exist independent of those cues as a potential bet-hedging strategy. Here we use single-cell RNA-seq to profile transcriptional variation in Plasmodium berghei ookinetes across different vector species, and between and within individual midguts. We then compare our resu

SUBMITTER: Witmer K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7958875 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature