title: In vivo and in vitro characterization of a Plasmodium liver stage-specific promoter.
abstract: Little is known about stage-specific gene regulation in Plasmodium parasites, in particular the liver stage of development. We have previously described in the Plasmodium berghei rodent model, a liver stage-specific (lisp2) gene promoter region, in vitro. Using a dual luminescence system, we now confirm the stage specificity of this promoter region also in vivo. Furthermore, by substitution and deletion analyses we have extended our in vitro characterization of important elements within the promoter region. Importantly, the dual luminescence system allows analyzing promoter constructs avoiding mouse-consuming cloning procedures of transgenic parasites. This makes extensive mutation and deletion studies a reasonable approach also in the malaria mouse model. Stage-specific expression constructs and parasite lines are extremely valuable tools for research on Plasmodium liver stage biology. Such reporter lines offer a promising opportunity for assessment of liver stage drugs, characterization of genetically attenuated parasites and liver stage-specific vaccines both in vivo and in vitro, and may be key for the generation of inducible systems.
authors: Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors: Mariana
authors: M
authors: De Niz
authors: Molecular Parasitology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Susanne
authors: S
authors: Helm
authors: Molecular Parasitology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Sebastian
authors: S
authors: Horstmann
authors: Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Takeshi
authors: T
authors: Annoura
authors: Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Barcelona, Spain; Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Hernando A
authors: HA
authors: Del Portillo
authors: Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors: Shahid M
authors: SM
authors: Khan
authors: Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors: Volker T
authors: VT
authors: Heussler
mesh_terms: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000379:methods; D008288:Malaria / Q000469:parasitology; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009154:Mutation; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017384:Sequence Deletion
chemical_list: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D008156:Luciferases