ena-STUDY-Walter and Eliza Hall Institute-15-07-2014-03:24:16:330-144
Malaria parasites regulate secretion of exosomes carrying genomic DNA
Cells use extracellular vesicles to communicate, to coordinate social             activities and, as in the case of pathogens, to export virulence effectors into host             target cells. Previously, we showed that the lethal malaria parasite, Plasmodium             falciparum can transfer episomal plasmids via vesicles produced at the ring-stage of the             asexual life cycle. Here, we show these nanovesicles are exosomes and have determined             their molecular content; nucleic acids, proteins and lipids. Remarkably, we found that             exosomes deliver endogenous nuclear genes, parasite apicoplast and mitochondrial genomic             DNA, and a large group of non-coding RNAs. Moreover, we found that P. falciparum             parasites utilize exosomes to export their major virulence factor, PfEMP1, to the             extracellular milieu in a time-dependent manner. Our findings provide an understanding             of how the parasite can manipulate the host environment. This data underlies the             sequencing of the genomic DNA content
Cells use extracellular vesicles to communicate, to coordinate social             activities and, as in the case of pathogens, to export virulence effectors into host             target cells. Previously, we showed that the lethal malaria parasite, Plasmodium             falciparum can transfer episomal plasmids via vesicles produced at the ring-stage of the             asexual life cycle. Here, we show these nanovesicles are exosomes and have determined             their molecular content; nucleic acids, proteins and lipids. Remarkably, we found that             exosomes deliver endogenous nuclear genes, parasite apicoplast and mitochondrial genomic             DNA, and a large group of non-coding RNAs. Moreover, we found that P. falciparum             parasites utilize exosomes to export their major virulence factor, PfEMP1, to the             extracellular milieu in a time-dependent manner. Our findings provide an understanding             of how the parasite can manipulate the host environment. This data underlies the             sequencing of the genomic DNA content