title: PlasmodiumSporozoite Biology.
abstract: Plasmodiumsporozoite transmission is a critical population bottleneck in parasite life-cycle progression and, hence, a target for prophylactic drugs and vaccines. The recent progress of a candidate antisporozoite subunit vaccine formulation to licensure highlights the importance of sporozoite transmission intervention in the malaria control portfolio. Sporozoites colonize mosquito salivary glands, migrate through the skin, penetrate blood vessels, breach the liver sinusoid, and invade hepatocytes. Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms that mediate the remarkable sporozoite journey in the invertebrate vector and the vertebrate host can inform evidence-based next-generation drug development programs and immune intervention strategies.
authors.affiliation: Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Heidelberg Medical School, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Frischknecht
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biology, Humboldt University Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matuschewski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008288:Malaria / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development*; D034101:Sporozoites / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure