title: The human malaria parasite Pfs47 gene mediates evasion of the mosquito immune system.
abstract: Plasmodium falciparum transmission by Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes is remarkably efficient, resulting in a very high prevalence of human malaria infection in sub-Saharan Africa. A combination of genetic mapping, linkage group selection, and functional genomics was used to identify Pfs47 as a P. falciparum gene that allows the parasite to infect A. gambiae without activating the mosquito immune system. Disruption of Pfs47 greatly reduced parasite survival in the mosquito, and this phenotype could be reverted by genetic complementation of the parasite or by disruption of the mosquito complement-like system. Pfs47 suppresses midgut nitration responses that are critical to activate the complement-like system. We provide direct experimental evidence that immune evasion mediated by Pfs47 is critical for efficient human malaria transmission by A. gambiae.
authors: Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20892, USA.
authors: Alvaro
authors: A
authors: Molina-Cruz
authors: Lindsey S
authors: LS
authors: Garver
authors: Amy
authors: A
authors: Alabaster
authors: Lois
authors: L
authors: Bangiolo
authors: Ashley
authors: A
authors: Haile
authors: Jared
authors: J
authors: Winikor
authors: Corrie
authors: C
authors: Ortega
authors: Ben C L
authors: BC
authors: van Schaijk
authors: Robert W
authors: RW
authors: Sauerwein
authors: Emma
authors: E
authors: Taylor-Salmon
authors: Carolina
authors: C
authors: Barillas-Mury
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D055786:Gene Knockout Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000635:transmission*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C526772:Pfs47 protein, Plasmodium falciparum; D015800:Protozoan Proteins
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