Proteins of the malaria parasite sexual stages: expression, function and potential for transmission blocking strategies.
The sexual phase of the malaria pathogen, Plasmodium falciparum, culminates in fertilization within the midgut of the mosquito and represents a crucial step in the completion of the parasite's life-cycle and transmission of the disease. Two decades ago, the first sexual stage-specific surface proteins were identified, among them Pfs230, Pfs48/45, and Pfs25, which were of scientific interest as candidates for the development of transmission blocking vaccines. A decade later, gene information gained from the sequencing of the P. falciparum genome led to the identification of numerous additional sexual-stage proteins with antigenic properties and novel enzymes that putatively possess regulatory functions during sexual-stage development. This review aims to summarize the sexual-stage proteins identified to date, to compare their stage specificities and expression patterns and to highlight novel regulative mechanisms of sexual differentiation. The prospective candidacy of select sexual-stage proteins as targets for transmission blocking strategies will be discussed.
Pradel
G
G
University of Würzburg, Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Röntgenring 11, 97070 Würzburg, Germany. gabriele.pradel@mail.uni-wuerzbug.de
D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D046468:Sexual Development / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
D015800:Protozoan Proteins