title: Pfs 16 pivotal role in Plasmodium falciparum gametocytogenesis: a potential antiplasmodial drug target.
abstract: Mature gametocytes, the sexual stage of Plasmodium falciparum, ensure the continued transmission of malaria from the human host to the mosquito vector. Even if gametocytes are not implicated in the malaria physiopathology it is crucial to the spread of malaria. Gametocytes are to be a key target for drugs used against Plasmodium in public health. The expression levels of 4 sexual-stage specific genes, Pfs 16, Pfs 25, Pfg 27 and S 18S rRNA, during gametocytogenesis of various P. falciparum strains were analyzed by a real time PCR assay. The strains showed different capacities to produce mature gametocytes and in parallel different patterns of sexual gene expression. There was a correlation only between Pfs 16 cDNA overexpression in the first 48h of the culture and the production of mature gametocytes. Pfs 16 is an early marker of the development of mature gametocytes in cultures and is therefore a potential target for new antimalarial drugs.
authors.affiliation: Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie du CHU de Toulouse, Toulouse, France. berry.a@chu-toulouse.fr
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Deymier
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sertorio
authors.forename: Benoît
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Witkowski
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Benoit-Vical
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005718:Gametogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000635:transmission*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D016053:RNA, Protozoan / Q000097:blood / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D000962:Antimalarials; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D016053:RNA, Protozoan; C068959:Pfs16 protein, Plasmodium falciparum