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A single-cell atlas of Plasmodium falciparum transmission through the mosquito

Author

Listed:
  • Eliana Real

    (Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London)

  • Virginia M. Howick

    (Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute
    University of Glasgow
    University of Glasgow)

  • Farah A. Dahalan

    (Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London)

  • Kathrin Witmer

    (Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London
    Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute)

  • Juliana Cudini

    (Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute)

  • Clare Andradi-Brown

    (Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London
    Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London)

  • Joshua Blight

    (Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London)

  • Mira S. Davidson

    (Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London)

  • Sunil Kumar Dogga

    (Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute)

  • Adam J. Reid

    (Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute)

  • Jake Baum

    (Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London)

  • Mara K. N. Lawniczak

    (Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute)

Abstract

Malaria parasites have a complex life cycle featuring diverse developmental strategies, each uniquely adapted to navigate specific host environments. Here we use single-cell transcriptomics to illuminate gene usage across the transmission cycle of the most virulent agent of human malaria - Plasmodium falciparum. We reveal developmental trajectories associated with the colonization of the mosquito midgut and salivary glands and elucidate the transcriptional signatures of each transmissible stage. Additionally, we identify both conserved and non-conserved gene usage between human and rodent parasites, which point to both essential mechanisms in malaria transmission and species-specific adaptations potentially linked to host tropism. Together, the data presented here, which are made freely available via an interactive website, provide a fine-grained atlas that enables intensive investigation of the P. falciparum transcriptional journey. As well as providing insights into gene function across the transmission cycle, the atlas opens the door for identification of drug and vaccine targets to stop malaria transmission and thereby prevent disease.

Suggested Citation

  • Eliana Real & Virginia M. Howick & Farah A. Dahalan & Kathrin Witmer & Juliana Cudini & Clare Andradi-Brown & Joshua Blight & Mira S. Davidson & Sunil Kumar Dogga & Adam J. Reid & Jake Baum & Mara K. , 2021. "A single-cell atlas of Plasmodium falciparum transmission through the mosquito," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-23434-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23434-z
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    Cited by:

    1. Nicholas L. Dooley & Tinashe G. Chabikwa & Zuleima Pava & Jessica R. Loughland & Julianne Hamelink & Kiana Berry & Dean Andrew & Megan S. F. Soon & Arya SheelaNair & Kim A. Piera & Timothy William & B, 2023. "Single cell transcriptomics shows that malaria promotes unique regulatory responses across multiple immune cell subsets," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-22, December.
    2. Mwikali Kioko & Alena Pance & Shaban Mwangi & David Goulding & Alison Kemp & Martin Rono & Lynette Isabella Ochola-Oyier & Pete C. Bull & Philip Bejon & Julian C. Rayner & Abdirahman I. Abdi, 2023. "Extracellular vesicles could be a putative posttranscriptional regulatory mechanism that shapes intracellular RNA levels in Plasmodium falciparum," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.

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