Invasion of hepatocytes by Plasmodium sporozoites requires cGMP-dependent protein kinase and calcium dependent protein kinase 4.

ABSTRACT: Invasion of hepatocytes by sporozoites is essential for Plasmodium to initiate infection of the mammalian host. The parasite's subsequent intracellular differentiation in the liver is the first developmental step of its mammalian cycle. Despite their biological significance, surprisingly little is known of the signalling pathways required for sporozoite invasion. We report that sporozoite invasion of hepatocytes requires signalling through two second-messengers - cGMP mediated by the parasite's cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG), and Ca²⁺ , mediated by the parasite's calcium-dependent protein kinase 4 (CDPK4). Sporozoites expressing a mutated form of Plasmodium berghei PKG or carrying a deletion of the CDPK4 gene are defective in invasion of hepatocytes. Using specific and pote

SUBMITTER: Govindasamy K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8666132 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature