Plasmodium falciparum sexual differentiation in malaria patients is associated with host factors and GDV1-dependent genes
Loading...
Date
2019
Authors
Usui, M.
Prajapati, S.K.
Ayanful-Torgby, R.
Acquah, F.K.
Cudjoe, E.
Kakaney, C.
Amponsah, J.A.
Obboh, E.K.
Reddy, D.K.
Barbeau, M.C.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nature Communications
Abstract
Plasmodium sexual differentiation is required for malaria transmission, yet much remains unknown about its regulation. Here, we quantify early gametocyte-committed ring (gc-ring) stage, P. falciparum parasites in 260 uncomplicated malaria patient blood samples 10 days before maturation to transmissible stage V gametocytes using a gametocyte conversion assay (GCA). Seventy six percent of the samples have gc-rings, but the ratio of gametocyte to asexual-committed rings (GCR) varies widely (0–78%). GCR correlates positively with parasitemia and is negatively influenced by fever, not hematocrit, age or leukocyte counts. Higher expression levels of GDV1-dependent genes, ap2-g, msrp1 and gexp5, as well as a gdv1 allele encoding H217 are associated with high GCR, while high plasma lysophosphatidylcholine levels are associated with low GCR in the second study year. The results provide a view of sexual differentiation in the field and suggest key regulatory roles for clinical factors and gdv1 in gametocytogenesis in vivo. © 2019, The Author(s).