TY - JOUR
T1 - The transcriptome of circulating sexually committed Plasmodium falciparum ring stage parasites forecasts malaria transmission potential
AU - Prajapati, Surendra K.
AU - Ayanful-Torgby, Ruth
AU - Pava, Zuleima
AU - Barbeau, Michelle C.
AU - Acquah, Festus K.
AU - Cudjoe, Elizabeth
AU - Kakaney, Courage
AU - Amponsah, Jones A.
AU - Obboh, Evans
AU - Ahmed, Anwar E.
AU - Abuaku, Benjamin K.
AU - McCarthy, James S.
AU - Amoah, Linda E.
AU - Williamson, Kim C.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.
PY - 2020/12
Y1 - 2020/12
N2 - Malaria is spread by the transmission of sexual stage parasites, called gametocytes. However, with Plasmodium falciparum, gametocytes can only be detected in peripheral blood when they are mature and transmissible to a mosquito, which complicates control efforts. Here, we identify the set of genes overexpressed in patient blood samples with high levels of gametocyte-committed ring stage parasites. Expression of all 18 genes is regulated by transcription factor AP2-G, which is required for gametocytogenesis. We select three genes, not expressed in mature gametocytes, to develop as biomarkers. All three biomarkers we validate in vitro using 6 different parasite lines and develop an algorithm that predicts gametocyte production in ex vivo samples and volunteer infection studies. The biomarkers are also sensitive enough to monitor gametocyte production in asymptomatic P. falciparum carriers allowing early detection and treatment of infectious reservoirs, as well as the in vivo analysis of factors that modulate sexual conversion.
AB - Malaria is spread by the transmission of sexual stage parasites, called gametocytes. However, with Plasmodium falciparum, gametocytes can only be detected in peripheral blood when they are mature and transmissible to a mosquito, which complicates control efforts. Here, we identify the set of genes overexpressed in patient blood samples with high levels of gametocyte-committed ring stage parasites. Expression of all 18 genes is regulated by transcription factor AP2-G, which is required for gametocytogenesis. We select three genes, not expressed in mature gametocytes, to develop as biomarkers. All three biomarkers we validate in vitro using 6 different parasite lines and develop an algorithm that predicts gametocyte production in ex vivo samples and volunteer infection studies. The biomarkers are also sensitive enough to monitor gametocyte production in asymptomatic P. falciparum carriers allowing early detection and treatment of infectious reservoirs, as well as the in vivo analysis of factors that modulate sexual conversion.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85097010149&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/s41467-020-19988-z
DO - 10.1038/s41467-020-19988-z
M3 - Article
C2 - 33268801
AN - SCOPUS:85097010149
SN - 2041-1723
VL - 11
JO - Nature Communications
JF - Nature Communications
IS - 1
M1 - 6159
ER -