Deconstructing Invasion Phenotype Switching in Plasmodium Falciparum

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorNyarko, P.B.
dc.date.accessioned2020-01-21T15:28:27Z
dc.date.available2020-01-21T15:28:27Z
dc.date.issued2018-07
dc.descriptionMPhil. Molecular Cell Biology of Infectious Diseasesen_US
dc.description.abstractThe extensive redundancy in the use of invasion ligands by Plasmodium falciparum, and its unique ability to switch between invasion pathways have hampered vaccine development. The Dd2 and W2mef strains of P. falciparum have been shown to change from sialic acid (SA)-dependent to SA-independent phenotypes when selected on neuraminidase-treated erythrocytes. Following an observation of increasing ability of Dd2 to invade neuraminidase-treated cells when cultured for several weeks, a systematic investigation of this phenomenon was conducted by comparing invasion phenotypes of Dd2, W2mef and 3D7 strains of P. falciparum that were cultured with gentle shaking (Suspended) or under static (Static) conditions. While Static Dd2 and W2mef remained SA-dependent for the entire duration of the investigation, Suspended parasites spontaneously and progressively switched to SA-independent phenotype from week 2 onwards. Furthermore, returning Suspended cultures to Static conditions led to a gradual reversal to SA-dependent phenotype. The switch to SA-independent phenotype was accompanied by upregulation of the key invasion ligand, reticulocyte-binding homologue 4 (RH4), and the increased invasion was inhibited by antibodies to the RH4 receptor, CR1. The data demonstrates a novel mechanism for inducing the switching of invasion pathways in P. falciparum parasites and may provide clues for understanding the mechanisms involved.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://ugspace.ug.edu.gh/handle/123456789/34479
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherUniversity of Ghanaen_US
dc.subjectMalaria Burdenen_US
dc.subjectMalaria Pathogenesisen_US
dc.subjectParasite Biologyen_US
dc.titleDeconstructing Invasion Phenotype Switching in Plasmodium Falciparumen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Deconstructing_Invasion_Phenotype_Switching_in_Plasmodium_falciparum.pdf
Size:
2.53 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.6 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download

Collections

Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology