Investigation of proteins that regulate transcription in Plasmodium falciparum.

Abstract

Malaria, caused by the protozoan Plasmodium, threatens hundreds of millions around the world annually. As part of efforts to eradicate this disease, more needs to be known about the parasite’s biology, and elucidating the genetic and molecular basis of erythrocyte invasion process can help researchers develop more effective drugs and vaccines. Here, we seek to study the parasite’s erythrocyte invasion process via two approaches.

The first approach entailed making myc-tagged constructs of genes involved in transcription regulation. These proteins could be isolated from the parasite at each stage and more about how transcription and gene regulation affects invasion can be studied. Two separate plasmid vectors were used; pARL and pLN. Cloning was partially successful for the pARL constructs but not the pLN. Next would be to use the pARL constructs for transfection into parasites and to isolate the proteins for characterization studies.

The second approach was to visualize the release of micronemal and rhoptry proteins during invasion by tagging them with GFP and/or mCher. As no live parasites were observed five weeks post-transfection and time was lacking, the transfection was considered a failure and further reattempts should be made.