Molecular mechanisms of host cell traversal by malaria sporozoites

• Malaria sporozoites traverse host cells to establish infection in the mammalian host.
• Sporozoite traversal of host cells can involve transient vacuoles.
• Parasite escape from transient vacuoles requires perforin-like protein 1 (PLP1).
• The formation and nature of the sporozoite-host cell tight junction is unknown.
• The molecular step-wise events of cell traversal are largely unknown and require further research.