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2007 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

Investigation of liver infection mechanisms of malaria parasites

Research Project

Project/Area Number 18390128
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field Parasitology (including Sanitary zoology)
Research InstitutionMie University

Principal Investigator

YUDA Masao  Mie University, Graduate School of Medicine, Professor (90293779)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) IWANAGA Shiro  Tottori University, Graduate School of Medicine, Lecturer (20314510)
Project Period (FY) 2006 – 2007
KeywordsMalaria / sporozoite / 肝臓
Research Abstract

Malarial sporozoites, the liver-invasive forms, are injected into the skin by a mosquito bite. We found that cell traversal is important for sporozoites migrate to the circulation through the host dermis. This ability prevents sporozoite destruction by phagocytes and arrest by nonphagocytic cells in the host dermis. Then they are effectively targeted to hepatocytes and proliferate in them. So far, however, sporozoite molecules that mediate the specific infection of the liver remain unknown. We found that two proteins, Pbs36p and Pbs36, belonging to the plasmodium 6-cys domain protein family, and another novel protein, designated Pbs41, carry out this function. These molecules are specifically produced in liver-infective sporozoites. Target disruption of the respective genes nearly abolished sporozoite infectivity in the mammalian host. Invasion assays revealed that the mutant parasites could not commit to infection, even when they encounter with hepatocytes, resulting in continuous traversal of hepatocytes. These results suggest that these proteins are necessary for sporozoites to recognize hepatocytes and commit to infection. This finding might lead to novel anti-malarial strategies that prevent sporozoite infection of the hepatocyte.

  • Research Products

    (4 results)

All 2008

All Journal Article (2 results) (of which Peer Reviewed: 1 results) Presentation (2 results)

  • [Journal Article] Host cell traversal is important for progression of the malaria parasite through the dermis to the liver2008

    • Author(s)
      Amino R, Giovannini D, Thiberge S, Gueirard P, Boisson B, Dubremetz JF, Prevost MC, Ishino T, Yuda M, and Menard R.
    • Journal Title

      Cell Host Microbe 3

      Pages: 88-96

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Journal Article] Host cell traversal is important for progression of the malaria Parasite through the dermis to the liver2008

    • Author(s)
      Amino, R. Giovannini, D. Thiberge, S. Gueirard, P. Boisson, B. Dubremetz, IF. Prevost, MC. Ishino, T. Yuda, M. Menard, R
    • Journal Title

      Cell Host Microbe 3

      Pages: 86-96

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Presentation] Identification of a master transcription facter that controls gene expression of the mosquito-invasive stage of malaria prasites Molecular approach to Malaria2008

    • Author(s)
      Masao, Yuda
    • Place of Presentation
      Lorne Australia
    • Year and Date
      20080203-07
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Presentation] Identification of a master transcription facter that controls gene expression of the mosquito-invasive stage of malaria prasites2008

    • Author(s)
      Masao Yuda
    • Organizer
      Molecular approach to malaria 2008
    • Place of Presentation
      オーストラリア
    • Year and Date
      2008-02-03
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より

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Published: 2010-02-04  

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