Repository logo
 

Male-Specific Protein Disulphide Isomerase Function is Essential for Plasmodium Transmission and a Vulnerable Target for Intervention

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Change log

Authors

Angrisano, Fiona 
Sala, Katarzyna A. 
Tapanelli, Sofia 
Christophides, George K.  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3323-1687
Blagborough, Andrew M. 

Abstract

Abstract: Inhibiting transmission of Plasmodium is an essential strategy in malaria eradication, and the biological process of gamete fusion during fertilization is a proven target for this approach. Lack of knowledge of the mechanisms underlying fertilization have been a hindrance in the development of transmission-blocking interventions. Here we describe a protein disulphide isomerase essential for malarial transmission (PDI-Trans/PBANKA_0820300) to the mosquito. We show that PDI-Trans activity is male-specific, surface-expressed, essential for fertilization/transmission, and exhibits disulphide isomerase activity which is up-regulated post-gamete activation. We demonstrate that PDI-Trans is a viable anti-malarial drug and vaccine target blocking malarial transmission with the use of PDI inhibitor bacitracin (98.21%/92.48% reduction in intensity/prevalence), and anti-PDI-Trans antibodies (66.22%/33.16% reduction in intensity/prevalence). To our knowledge, these results provide the first evidence that PDI function is essential for malarial transmission, and emphasize the potential of anti-PDI agents to act as anti-malarials, facilitating the future development of novel transmission-blocking interventions.

Description

Keywords

Article, /631/80/304, /631/80/470, /631/326/417/1716, /631/326/417/2552, /64, /82, /14/1, /14/35, /38/109, /64/60, /82/1, /82/80, article

Journal Title

Scientific Reports

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2045-2322

Volume Title

9

Publisher

Nature Publishing Group UK
Sponsorship
RCUK | Medical Research Council (MRC) (MR/N00227X/1)