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Environmental constraints guide migration of malaria parasites during transmission

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Item Type:Article
Title:Environmental constraints guide migration of malaria parasites during transmission
Creators Name:Hellmann, J.K. and Münter, S. and Kudryashev, M. and Schulz, S. and Heiss, K. and Müller, A.K. and Matuschewski, K. and Spatz, J.P. and Schwarz, U.S. and Frischknecht, F.
Abstract:Migrating cells are guided in complex environments mainly by chemotaxis or structural cues presented by the surrounding tissue. During transmission of malaria, parasite motility in the skin is important for Plasmodium sporozoites to reach the blood circulation. Here we show that sporozoite migration varies in different skin environments the parasite encounters at the arbitrary sites of the mosquito bite. In order to systematically examine how sporozoite migration depends on the structure of the environment, we studied it in micro-fabricated obstacle arrays. The trajectories observed in vivo and in vitro closely resemble each other suggesting that structural constraints can be sufficient to guide Plasmodium sporozoites in complex environments. Sporozoite speed in different environments is optimized for migration and correlates with persistence length and dispersal. However, this correlation breaks down in mutant sporozoites that show adhesion impairment due to the lack of TRAP-like protein (TLP) on their surfaces. This may explain their delay in infecting the host. The flexibility of sporozoite adaption to different environments and a favorable speed for optimal dispersal ensures efficient host switching during malaria transmission.
Keywords:Environment, Genetically Modified Organisms, Green Fluorescent Proteins, Inbred C57BL Mice, Malaria, Movement, Parasites, Plasmodium, Skin, Vesicular Transport Proteins, Animals, Mice
Source:PLoS Pathogens
ISSN:1553-7366
Publisher:Public Library of Science
Volume:7
Number:6
Page Range:e1002080
Date:16 June 2011
Official Publication:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1002080
PubMed:View item in PubMed

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