Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
2829810 Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 2012 5 Pages PDF
Abstract

Plasmodium falciparum is the pathogenic agent of the most lethal of human malarias. Transgenic P. falciparum parasites expressing luciferase have been created to study drug interventions of both asexual and sexual blood stages but luciferase-expressing mosquito stage and liver stage parasites have not been created which has prevented the easy quantification of mosquito stage development (e.g. for transmission blocking interventions) and liver stage development (for interventions that prevent infection). To overcome this obstacle, we have created a transgenic P. falciparum NF54 parasite that expresses a GFP–luciferase transgene throughout the life cycle. Luciferase expression is robust and measurable at all life cycle stages, including midgut oocyst, salivary gland sporozoites and liver stages, where in vivo development is easily measurable using humanized mouse infections in conjunction with an in vivo imaging system. This parasite reporter strain will accelerate testing of interventions against pre-erythrocytic life cycle stages.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (277 K)Download as PowerPoint slideHighlights► A transgenic Plasmodium falciparum parasite that expresses luciferase throughout the life cycle. ► Mosquito oocyst numbers correlate to luciferase activity. ► Sporozoite numbers correlate to luciferase activity. ► In vivo luciferase activity measurable in liver stages. ► A novel tool to study malaria pre-erythrocytic stages.

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