title: Sex: how malaria parasites get turned on.
abstract: The mechanisms underlying sexual stage switching in Plasmodium spp. have hitherto remained a mystery. However, two recent studies have revealed that an apicomplexan-specific DNA-binding protein is essential for the initiation of this cell fate decision, ultimately providing the malaria community with a novel and important tool in the battle to prevent malaria transmission.
authors.affiliation: Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ankarklev
authors.affiliation: Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Nicolas M B
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Brancucci
authors.affiliation: Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Ilana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Goldowitz
authors.affiliation: Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Pierre-Yves
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Mantel
authors.affiliation: Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: mmarti@hsph.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics*; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000254:growth & development*; D008288:Malaria / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D010271:Parasites / Q000502:physiology*; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000235:genetics*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics*; D046468:Sexual Development / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*