Transgenic Plasmodium berghei sporozoites expressing beta-galactosidase for quantification of sporozoite transmission

Mol Biochem Parasitol. 2006 Mar;146(1):30-7. doi: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2005.10.015. Epub 2005 Nov 15.

Abstract

Malaria transmission occurs during a blood-meal of an infected Anopheles mosquito. Visualization and quantification of sporozoites along the journey from the mosquito midgut, where they develop, to the vertebrate liver, their final target organ, is important for understanding many aspects of sporozoite biology. Here we describe the generation of Plasmodium berghei parasites that express the reporter gene lacZ as a stable transgene, under the control of the sporozoite-specific CSP promoter. Transgenic sporozoites expressing beta-galactosidase can be simply visualized and quantified in an enzymatic assay. In addition, these sporozoites can be used to quantify sporozoites deposited in subcutaneous tissue during natural infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified / genetics
  • Animals, Genetically Modified / physiology
  • Anopheles / parasitology
  • Blotting, Western / methods
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Malaria / parasitology*
  • Malaria / transmission*
  • Mice
  • Plasmodium berghei / enzymology*
  • Plasmodium berghei / genetics
  • Plasmodium berghei / physiology
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics
  • Sporozoites / chemistry
  • Sporozoites / genetics
  • Sporozoites / isolation & purification
  • Sporozoites / physiology*
  • beta-Galactosidase / biosynthesis*
  • beta-Galactosidase / genetics

Substances

  • Protozoan Proteins
  • circumsporozoite protein, Protozoan
  • beta-Galactosidase