biostudies-literatureKina UYNIAID NIH HHSHHS | NIH | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesTUBITAKe0016723https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10353352biostudies-literatureUnknown91(7)A frequent side effect of chemotherapy against malaria parasite blood infections is a dramatic induction of the sexual blood stages, thereby enhancing the risk of future malaria transmissions. The polyamine biosynthesis pathway has been suggested as a candidate target for transmission-blocking anti-malarial drug development. Herein, we describe the role of a bacterial-type amino acid decarboxylase (<i>AAD</i>) in the life cycle of the malaria model parasite Plasmodium yoelii. Hallmarks of AAD include a conserved catalytic lysine residue and high-level homology to arginine/lysine/ornithine decarboxylases of pathogenic bacteria. By targeted gene deletion, we show that <i>AAD</i> plays an essential role in the exflagellation of microgametes, resulting in complete absence of sporozoites in theInfection and immunityA Candidate Bacterial-Type Amino Acid Decarboxylase Is Essential for Male Gamete Exflagellation and Mosquito Transmission of the Malaria Parasite.PMC10353352R21 AI111058119Z4091R21AI111058-01A1Deveci GKina UYRafiqi AMMatuschewski KAly ASIKamil MfalseA Candidate Bacterial-Type Amino Acid Decarboxylase Is Essential for Male Gamete Exflagellation and Mosquito Transmission of the Malaria Parasite.A frequent side effect of chemotherapy against malaria parasite blood infections is a dramatic induction of the sexual blood stages, thereby enhancing the risk of future malaria transmissions. The polyamine biosynthesis pathway has been suggested as a candidate target for transmission-blocking anti-malarial drug development. Herein, we describe the role of a bacterial-type amino acid decarboxylase (<i>AAD</i>) in the life cycle of the malaria model parasite Plasmodium yoelii. Hallmarks of AAD include a conserved catalytic lysine residue and high-level homology to arginine/lysine/ornithine decarboxylases of pathogenic bacteria. By targeted gene deletion, we show that <i>AAD</i> plays an essential role in the exflagellation of microgametes, resulting in complete absence of sporozoites in the2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Jul2025-05-29T21:47:21.437Z2025-05-29T21:47:21.437ZS-EPMC103533523726038810.1128/iai.00167-23