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Content archived on 2024-05-29

Targeting malaria transmission through interference with signalling in Plasmodium falciparum gametocytogenesis

Objective

Inhibiting transmission of the malaria parasite from infected humans to the mosquito vector would be of considerable interest in the context of malaria control, especially in order to prevent the dissemination of drug-resistant genotypes. Since only sexual forms of the parasite (the gametocytes) are infective to the mosquito, blocking gametocytogenesis would prevent transmission. The molecular control of gametocytogenesis is not understood. Our laboratories have independently brought significant contributions to the characterisation of (i) components of signalling pathways, some of which are likely to be involved in differentiation, and (ii) proteins expressed at the onset of gametocytogenesis, such as Pfg27 and Pfs16. We propose to merge these lines of investigation to generate an integrated picture of the early events of sexual development at the molecular level. Furthermore, we will develop screening assays for enzymes suspected to be involved in gametocytogenesis, to identify compounds able to interfere with malaria transmission. Specific objectives of the network are: -to establish a map of protein-protein interactions for molecules expressed at the onset of gametocytogenesis, identified within the network by conventional and genome-wide approaches; -to define the role of phosphorylation of Pfg27, an RNA-binding phosphoprotein essential to sexual development whose structure is solved, integrating biochemical, functional and structural approaches; -to establish the role that protein kinases and proteins expressed specifically in early gametocytes play in differentiation, using a reverse genetics approach; -to elucidate the organization of signalling pathways thought to be involved in gametocytogenesis, such as the cyclic nucleotide and MAPK pathways, central components of which have been characterised in our laboratories. -to establish biochemical assays for signalling protein kinases, and optimize such assays to medium throughput screening.

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Keywords

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Topic(s)

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Call for proposal

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FP6-2003-LIFESCIHEALTH-3
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Funding Scheme

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STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project

Coordinator

INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTÉ ET DE LA RECHERCHE MÉDICALE
EU contribution
No data
Total cost

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Participants (5)

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