A genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screen identifies CENPJ as a host regulator of altered microtubule organization during Plasmodium liver infection.

ABSTRACT: Prior to initiating symptomatic malaria, a single Plasmodium sporozoite infects a hepatocyte and develops into thousands of merozoites, in part by scavenging host resources, likely delivered by vesicles. Here, we demonstrate that host microtubules (MTs) dynamically reorganize around the developing liver stage (LS) parasite to facilitate vesicular transport to the parasite. Using a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screen, we identified host regulators of cytoskeleton organization, vesicle trafficking, and ER/Golgi stress that regulate LS development. Foci of γ-tubulin localized to the parasite periphery; depletion of centromere protein J (CENPJ), a novel regulator identified in the screen, exacerbated this re-localization and increased infection. We demonstrate that the Golgi acts as a non-centrosom

SUBMITTER: Vijayan K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9481707 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature