title: Shape-shifting gametocytes: how and why does P. falciparum go banana-shaped?
abstract: Plasmodium falciparum is named for the crescent or falciform shape it adopts when preparing to undergo transfer to a mosquito vector. By contrast, gametocytes of the other (less virulent) human malaria parasites retain a more rounded shape. We describe the machinery that elongates falciparum gametocytes and discuss its relation with the machinery that elongates the invasive zoites. We address the question - why do falciparum malaria gametocytes go banana-shaped? The answer may lie in the finding that gametocyte maturation is associated with an increase in cellular deformability. The shape-shifting ability of gametocytes may facilitate the sequestration of early-stage gametocytes, while enabling late-stage gametocytes to circulate in the blood stream without being removed by the mechanical filtering mechanisms in the host spleen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Matthew W A
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: Megan K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Dearnley
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hanssen
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gilberger
authors.forename: Leann
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tilley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane; D009033:Culicidae / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D008018:Life Cycle Stages / Q000502:physiology*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D013154:Spleen / Q000469:parasitology