The assembly of multimeric protein complexes in the sexual stages of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Gabriele Pradel
• Subject Area: Parasitology and Biology of Tropical Infectious Disease Pathogens
• Term: from 2012 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 204233715

Sexual reproduction of the malaria parasite is initiated following its transmission from the human host to the mosquito vector during a blood meal. The sexual stages are the only life-cycle stages of the parasite that are able to establish an infection in the mosquito and thus play an important role for spread of the tropical disease. Parasite transmission is mediated by sexual precursor cells, the gametocytes, that in the midgut of the mosquito transform into fertile gametes. During gametocyte differentiation, a high number of surface-associated adhesion proteins are expressed, which assemble to multimeric protein complexes (MPCs) and which are subsequently exposed on the gamete surface. Antibodies directed against MPC proteins result in complement-mediated lysis of sexual stage parasites in the mosquito midgut, thereby blocking further development of the parasite in the vector. MPC proteins therefore represent promising candidates for transmission blocking vaccines. MPCs are multifunctional units mediating contact of sexual stage parasites and possibly play a role in gametogenesis as well as in finding and fusion of mating partners. The assembly of MPCs and their fate during parasite development in the mosquito midgut, however, are up to date not well understood. It is therefore the aim of this proposal to investigate the molecular composition of sexual stage MPCs, to identify a possible connection of MPCs with the submembranous elements of the gametocyte cytoskeleton and to investigate processing, relocation and degradation of MPC proteins.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants