Descripción del proyecto
Comprensión de la determinación del sexo en los parásitos del paludismo
La transmisión del paludismo es causada por parásitos asexuales del género «Plasmodium». Sin embargo, solo las formas sexuales femeninas y masculinas son capaces de transmitir la infección a los mosquitos, lo cual abre una ventana para el control de la enfermedad. Para determinar cómo emergen las formas sexuales masculinas y femeninas del parásito a partir de un subconjunto de parásitos en el estadio en sangre, los científicos del proyecto financiado con fondos europeos ARISE investigan la vía de determinación del sexo en el «Plasmodium falciparum». El trabajo abarca tanto poblaciones de parásitos adaptados para el laboratorio como parásitos silvestres y se centra en identificar los determinantes moleculares responsables de la determinación sexual del «Plasmodium». Además de la valiosa información sobre el proceso biológico de la propagación del parásito, los resultados del proyecto sentarán las bases para nuevas dianas para el tratamiento del paludismo.
Objetivo
Malaria is caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium. Whilst the disease is caused by asexual parasites, only sexual forms are capable of transmitting the infection to mosquitoes. Sexual forms arise from a small subset of blood-stage parasites which divert from the cycle of asexual replication and embark on a sexual developmental trajectory. Targeting the small population of parasites transmitted to mosquitoes would provide a powerful malaria control method. Although several genes have been found to have sex-specific roles, the molecular basis of the sex-determining mechanisms of Plasmodium into one or the other sex is mostly unknown.
In this proposal I will apply innovative approaches to uncover the pathway of sex-determination in P. falciparum, in both lab-adapted parasites and wild parasite populations. Specifically, I will (i) determine the earliest events in sexual dimorphism using single-cell transcriptomics (scRNAseq) in a lab-adapted P. falciparum strain (NF54); (ii) understand determinants of malaria sexual determination in wild parasites by harnessing the power of scRNAseq; (iii) identify factors that influence determination into male or female gametocytes in natural parasite populations obtained from infected carriers.
My supervisor, Dr Talman, is a leading figure in Plasmodium transcriptome analysis and sexual biology of the parasite. He has recently set up his group in Montpellier at MIGEVEC, one of the top IRD Centres in France. MIVEGEC has a unique and long history of supporting research and provides the best environment to conduct cutting-edge research in the lab as well as in challenging conditions in malaria endemic countries. Although this project represents an ambitious undertaking, I am confident my strong previous experience in malaria research and the genuine commitment to widen my field of expertise will contribute to have a major impact, providing an invaluable insight into a basic biological process essential for parasite propagation.
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MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinador
13572 Marseille
Francia