The Plasmodium sporozoite journey: a rite of passage.
Sporozoites are the most versatile of the invasive stages of the Plasmodium life cycle. During their passage within the mosquito vector and the vertebrate host, sporozoites display diverse behaviors, including gliding locomotion and invasion of, migration through and egress from target cells. At the end of the journey, sporozoites invade hepatocytes and transform into exoerythrocytic stages, marking the transition from the pre-erythrocytic to the erythrocytic part of the life cycle. This article discusses recent work, mostly done with rodent malaria parasites, that has contributed to a better understanding of the sporozoites' complex biology and which has opened up new avenues for future sporozoite research.
Kappe
Stefan H I
SH
Michael Heidelberger Division, Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA. kappes01@popmail.uky.edu
Kaiser
Karine
K
Matuschewski
Kai
K
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008124:Locomotion; D008322:Mammals / Q000469:parasitology; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000469:parasitology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D034101:Sporozoites / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity
D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C041595:circumsporozoite protein, Protozoan; C069428:thrombospondin-related adhesive protein, protozoan