The Isolation and Characterization of Plasmodial Genes

McCutchan, T.

Abstract

We have continued our work on the developmentally regulated transcription of Plasmodium ribosomal rRNA genes. We have defined the pattern of expression of the different units during parasite development in the mosquito. We have found that up-regulation of one unit relates to the differentiation of the sporozoite as a unit within the oocyst. We have also discovered a previously undescribed rDNA unit that is expressed only during early oocyst development in the mosquito. In separate studies, we have continued our work with attenuated lines of human and rodent malarias. Auxotrophic lines of parasites have been cloned and their developmental characteristics studied. Auxotrophic mutants of both species of parasite have been defined by their dependency on either exogenous pyrimidines or para-aminobenzoic acid . These should prove useful in the study of both the biochemistry of parasites and the development of immunity to parasites.

Funding Agency

• Agency: National Institute of Health (NIH)
• Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
• Type: Intramural Research (Z01)
• Project #: 1Z01AI000208-14
• Application #: 3746478
• Support Year: 14
• Fiscal Year: 1994

Institution

• Name: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
• Country: United States

Publications

Oakley, Miranda S; Majam, Victoria; Mahajan, Babita et al. (2009) Pathogenic roles of CD14, galectin-3, and OX40 during experimental cerebral malaria in mice. PLoS One 4:e6793

Raj, Dipak Kumar; Mu, Jianbing; Jiang, Hongying et al. (2009) Disruption of a Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistance-associated protein (PfMRP) alters its fitness and transport of antimalarial drugs and glutathione. J Biol Chem 284:7687-96

McCutchan, Thomas F (2008) Beyond bed nets. Science 319:33

Oakley, Miranda S; McCutchan, Thomas F; Anantharaman, Vivek et al. (2008) Host biomarkers and biological pathways that are associated with the expression of experimental cerebral malaria in mice. Infect Immun 76:4518-29

Grim, K Christiana; McCutchan, Thomas; Sullivan, Margery et al. (2008) Unidentified Plasmodium species in Australian black swans (Cygnus atratus) hatched and raised in North America. J Zoo Wildl Med 39:216-20

Joy, Deirdre A; Gonzalez-Ceron, Lilia; Carlton, Jane M et al. (2008) Local adaptation and vector-mediated population structure in Plasmodium vivax malaria. Mol Biol Evol 25:1245-52

McCutchan, Thomas F (2008) Is a monkey malaria from Borneo an emerging human disease? Future Microbiol 3:115-8

Li, Jian; Zhang, Yanhui; Sullivan, Margery et al. (2007) Typing Plasmodium yoelii microsatellites using a simple and affordable fluorescent labeling method. Mol Biochem Parasitol 155:94-102

Oakley, Miranda S M; Kumar, Sanjai; Anantharaman, Vivek et al. (2007) Molecular factors and biochemical pathways induced by febrile temperature in intraerythrocytic Plasmodium falciparum parasites. Infect Immun 75:2012-25

Rathore, Dharmendar; Nagarkatti, Rana; Jani, Dewal et al. (2005) An immunologically cryptic epitope of Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein facilitates liver cell recognition and induces protective antibodies that block liver cell invasion. J Biol Chem 280:20524-9