Coil-like structure in Plasmodium gametocyte : IMC molecules involved in the unknown cytoskeleton?

• Project/Area Number: 15K08450
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Parasitology (including sanitary zoology)
• Research Institution: Kyorin University
• Principal Investigator: Takeo Satoru 杏林大学, 医学部, 准教授 (40302666)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2018)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,940,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,140,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,950,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥450,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
• Keywords: マラリア原虫 / マラリア / 生殖母体

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Some moelcules reported to be Inner Membrane Complex (IMC) proteins and others stand out in plasmodial gametocyte cells, showing coil-like structure. These and other IMC molecules can collectively form unknown cytoskeleton in the sexual stage in mammalian hosts.
Following 3 questions were raised to analyse the molecules: 1. Any interacting partner molecules? 2. How unexamined molecules behave in gametocyte? 3. Any change in phenotype if the molecule(s) ot interacting molecules are deleted?
The antibodies raised against some previously unexamined molecules on fixed gametocyte cells show coil-like structure.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

21世紀の現在でも全世界で年間推定50万人前後が亡くなる病気マラリアの対策、という視点からみると、マラリア原虫の生活環上で、迂回経路がないヒト赤血球内の生殖母体期は、流行地の感染サイクルを断ち切る抗マラリア薬やワクチンの標的になりうる。この時期に発現する分子群は、薬の標的分子やワクチン構成分子の候補といえる。これに資する分子を、今後の進捗と併せて同定する。