Identification of a major rif transcript common to gametocytes and sporozoites of Plasmodium falciparum

• Published in: Malaria Journal
• Main Authors: Hermsen Cornelus C, Sharp Sarah, Schwank Samana, Sutherland Colin J, Mwakalinga Steven B, Wang Christian W, Sauerwein Robert W, Theander Thor G, Lavstsen Thomas
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2010
• Subjects: Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic; Rif
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-9-147; https://doaj.org/article/4cd6f5d45bd84492a9576702bffbf85d

Abstract Background The Plasmodium falciparum parasite is transmitted in its sexual gametocyte stage from man to mosquito and as asexual sporozoites from mosquito to man. Developing gametocytes sequester preferentially in the bone marrow, but mature stage gametocytes are released to the bloodstream. Sexual stage parasite surface proteins are of interest as candidate target antigens for transmission blocking vaccines. Methods In this study, the transcript profiles of rif and var genes, known to encode surface antigens in asexual blood stage parasites, were investigated at different stages of 3D7/NF54 gametocytogenesis and in sporozoites. Results Gametocytes exhibited a rif transcript profile unlinked to the rif and var transcript profile of the asexual progenitors. At stage V, mature gametocytes produced high levels of a single rif gene, PF13_0006, which also dominated the rif transcript profile of sporozoites. All var genes appeared to be silenced in sporozoites. Conclusions The most prominent variant surface antigen transcribed in both gametocytes and sporozoites of 3D7/NF54 is a single variant of the RIFIN protein family. This discovery may lead to the identification of the parasites binding ligands responsible for the adhesion during sexual stages and potentially to novel vaccine candidates.