Putative prefoldin complex subunit 5 of Plasmodium berghei is crucial for microtubule formation and parasite development in the mosquito
In a collaborative study between the Heussler lab at the University of Bern and the Frischknecht lab at the University of Heidelberg, we focused on the development of Plasmodium sporozoites, the malaria-causing parasites, within the Anopheles mosquito. A particular gene, PbPCS5, was identified as essential for the parasite's development at various stages. By creating a parasite line lacking this gene, the study aimed to observe its effects during the mosquito stage. Findings revealed that although the absence of PbPCS5 did not significantly affect the initial formation of oocysts (a stage in the parasite's life cycle), it led to abnormal growth in sporozoites. These sporozoites were thinner, elongated, often nucleus-free, and exhibited fewer structural microtubules. This abnormal structure prevented the sporozoites from reaching the mosquito's salivary glands, a critical step for transmitting malaria to humans. Therefore, the study concludes that PbPCS5 is crucial for the proper development and life cycle progression of the malaria parasite during its mosquito stage.
