Last Updated: 18/06/2024
Molecular mechanisms of gliding motility and erythrocyte invasion by Plasmodium falciparum
Objectives
This study focuses on the “gliding movement” of Plasmodium falciparum, which was recently discovered, is used during the red blood cell invasion phase. Using a drug-induced gene knockout method developed by overseas collaborators, this project will identify protozoan molecules related to gliding movement and elucidate it’s activation mechanism.
Plasmodium falciparum, the pathogen of severe malaria, infects host red blood cells and exhibits lethal pathogenicity. So far, a correlation has been found between merozoite gliding time and erythrocyte invasion time. However, since the protozoan molecules that are considered vaccine antigen candidates involved in merozoite gliding and erythrocyte invasion have not yet been identified, we have clarified the molecules involved in gliding motility of malaria parasite merozoites. New targets and seeds will be created for overcoming malaria by clarifying the molecular mechanisms underlying erythrocyte deformation during motility and erythrocyte adhesion. The following research results were obtained this year:
- Whether merozoite adhesion to erythrocyte membranes and gliding movement occurs cell-specifically, when compared with erythrocytes, vascular endothelial cells, and HeLa cells, it was found to be an erythrocyte-specific phenomenon.
- Comparing the gliding motility of sporozoites and merozoites at the mosquito stage, it was found that merozoites move at 1/10 the speed of sporozoites.
- Reported in PNAS magazine as the first case in the world to discover that gliding motion is involved in the erythrocyte invasion phenomenon of Plasmodium falciparum.
Oct 2019 — Mar 2023
$159,474
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