Insights into the P. y. yoelii hepatic stage transcriptome reveal complex transcriptional patterns.
During their complex life cycle, malaria parasites adopt morphologically, biochemically and immunologically distinct forms. The intra-hepatic form is the least known, yet of established value in the induction of sterile immunity and as a target for chemoprophylaxis. Using Plasmodium yoelii as a model we present here a novel approach to the elucidation of the transcriptome of this poorly studied stage. Sequences from Plasmodium were obtained in 388 of the 3533 inserts (11%) isolated from liver stages cDNA obtained from optimized cultures with high yields. These corresponded to a total of 88 putative P. yoelii genes. The majority of the transcribed genes identified, code for predicted proteins of as yet unknown function. The RT-PCR analysis carried out for 29 of these genes, confirmed expression at the hepatic stage and provided evidence for complex patterns of genes transcription in the distinct stages found in the mosquito and vertebrate host. The results demonstrate the efficacy of the approach that can now be applied to further detailed analysis of the hepatic stage transcriptome of Plasmodium.
Grüner
Anne Charlotte
AC
Unité de Parasitologie Bio-Médicale, Institut Pasteur, 25 Rue du Dr Roux, 75731 Paris Cedex 15, France.
Hez-Deroubaix
Stéphanie
S
Snounou
Georges
G
Hall
Neil
N
Bouchier
Christiane
C
Letourneur
Frank
F
Landau
Irène
I
Druilhe
Pierre
P
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology*; D008288:Malaria / Q000469:parasitology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010967:Plasmodium yoelii / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D020543:Proteome; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016053:RNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D020543:Proteome; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016053:RNA, Protozoan