Research advances on transcriptional regulation in plasmodium sexual stages

doi:10.12140/j.issn.1000-7423.2023.05.014

Abstract

Abstract:

Malaria is a worldwide infectious disease caused by the Plasmodium spp. Malaria transmission depends on the alternate development of malaria parasites in both vertebrate and anopheles hosts. The sexual stage, consisting of male and female gametocytes, is the only infectious stage in which Plasmodium is transmitted from their vertebrates host to Anopheles mosquitoes. The gametocyte-related processes, including sexual commitment, gametocytogenesis, and subsequent gametogenesis, are critical for Plasmodium transmission. An in-depth understanding of gene expression and regulatory mechanisms in the sexual stage of malaria parasites contributes to the identification of targets for new antimalarial drugs or vaccines. In this review, recent research focusing on transcriptional regulation in the sexual stages was reviewed to provide a comprehensive understanding of gene expression and transcriptional regulation.

Key words: Plasmodium, Gametocyte, Transcriptional regulation, ApiAP2 transcription factors

CLC Number:

R382.31

LIANG Kejia, LIU Cong, LI Yanlin, LI Xiaoge, LIU Yan, LI Zhenkui. Research advances on transcriptional regulation in plasmodium sexual stages[J]. CHINESE JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY AND PARASITIC DISEASES, 2023, 41(5): 619-624.

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