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Plasmodium falciparum sexual differentiation in malaria patients is associated with host factors and GDV1-dependent genes.

ABSTRACT: Plasmodium sexual differentiation is required for malaria transmission, yet much remains unknown about its regulation. Here, we quantify early gametocyte-committed ring (gc-ring) stage, P. falciparum parasites in 260 uncomplicated malaria patient blood samples 10 days before maturation to transmissible stage V gametocytes using a gametocyte conversion assay (GCA). Seventy six percent of the samples have gc-rings, but the ratio of gametocyte to asexual-committed rings (GCR) varies widely (0-78%). GCR correlates positively with parasitemia and is negatively influenced by fever, not hematocrit, age or leukocyte counts. Higher expression levels of GDV1-dependent genes, ap2-g, msrp1 and gexp5, as well as a gdv1 allele encoding H²¹⁷ are associated with high GCR, while high plasma lysophosphatidylcholine levels are associated with low GCR in the second study year. The results provide a view of sexual differentiation in the field and suggest key regulatory roles for clinical factors and gdv1 in gametocytogenesis in vivo.

SUBMITTER: Usui M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6514009 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Lysophosphatidylcholine Regulates Sexual Stage Differentiation in the Human Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

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Lysophosphatidylcholine regulates sexual stage differentiation in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

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