Project description:In order to identify RNA binding proteins that are essential for male gametogenesis in the rodent malaria parasite P. yoelii, we conducted RNA-seq analysis to identify RBPs that are specifically expressed in male gametocytes.
Project description:This experiment characterizes the transcriptome of the human malaria parasite, P. falciparum at 8 different stages of the intraerythrocytic cycle
Project description:Plasmodium yoelii is a rodent parasite commonly used as a model to study liver-stage development in host system during malaria infection. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics approaches helps in understanding the proteomic profiling of parasite and provided opportunities to explore the mechanisms controlling parasite functions. It will further help in identifying new targets for therapeutic interventions, identification of Plasmodium associated virulence in the host. It will also help in the extensive refinement of parasite genome, and understanding of Post-translational modifications (PTM) in Plasmodium yoelii biology. In the present study, we performed a proteomic shotgun analysis of the Plasmodium yoelii 17XNL strain.
Project description:Malaria is a disease with diverse symptoms depending on host immune status and pathogenicity of Plasmodium parasites. The continuous parasite growth within a host suggests mechanisms of immune evasion and/or inhibition. To identify pathways commonly inhibited by malaria infection, we infected C67BL/6 mice with four Plasmodium yoelii strains causing different disease phenotypes and 24 progeny of a genetic cross. mRNAs from mouse spleens day 1 and/or day 4 post infection (p.i.) were hybridized to a mouse microarray to identify activated or inhibited pathways, upstream regulators, and linkages to parasite genetic loci. Strong interferon responses were observed after infection with N67 strain, whereas initial inhibition and later activation of hematopoiesis pathways were found after infection with 17XNL parasite. Inhibition of pathways such as Th1 activation, dendritic cell (DC) maturation, and NFAT immune regulation were observed in mice infected with all the parasite strains day 4 p.i., suggesting universally inhibited immune pathways. Treatment of infected mice with antibodies against T cell receptors OX40 or CD28 to activate malaria-inhibited pathways enhanced host survival. Controlled activation of these pathways may provide important strategies for better disease management and for developing an effective vaccine.
Project description:This experiment characterizes the transcriptome of the human malaria parasite, P. falciparum at 8 different stages of the intraerythrocytic cycle Examination of polyA selected RNA in Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 strain at 8 different stages using RNA-seq
Project description:This experiment characterizes the localisation of H2A.Z, H3K9ac and H3K4me3 in the epigenome of the human malaria parasite, P. falciparum at 4 different stages of intraerythrocytic development.
Project description:Plasmodium yoelii YM asexual blood stage parasites express multiple members of the py235 gene family, part of the super-family of genes including those coding for Plasmodium vivax reticulocyte binding proteins and Plasmodium falciparum RH proteins. Dr Tony Holder's laboratory (NIMR, London) has been successful in deleting one of the RH family genes (Py01365) by transfection and insertion of the TgDHFR gene, and cloned the resulting parasite in YM background. The gene expression patterns of the mutant parasite line were compared to that of the wild type YM parasite.
Project description:Artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum malaria has emerged in western Cambodia. This is a major threat to global plans to control and eliminate malaria as the artemisinins are a key component of antimalarial treatment throughout the world. Using DNA microarrays we identify key features of a transcriptional profile that are associated with the delayed parasite clearance phenotype. These include reduced expression of several basic metabolic and cellular pathways in the early stages, and increased expression of essentially all functionalities associated with protein metabolism in the later stages of P. falciparum intraerythrocytic development. This is consistent with the reduced ring stage susceptibility that characterizes artemisinin resistant P. falciparum. This modulation of the P. falciparum intraerythrocytic transcriptome may result from differential expression of several regulatory proteins such as transcription factors of chromatin remodeling associated factors. In addition, the artemisinin resistant phenotype is strongly associated with a specific pattern of copy number variations, some of which are linked with differential expression of several regulatory proteins such as histone 4 and zinc permease. This study reports the first global transcriptional survey of artemisinin resistant parasites and provides a set of candidate genes for further investigation.