Development of protocols for generation of Plasmodium knowlesi gametocytes

• Grant number: 24/06361-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2024
• End date: December 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Protozoology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Roberto Rudge de Moraes Barros
• Grantee: Ana Clara de Oliveira Gomes
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Gametocytes are sexual forms of plasmodium, responsible for transmission from the vertebrate to invertebrate hosts (Anopheles mosquitoes). Techniques for gametocyte development in vitro allowed the characterization of these forms of Plasmodium falciparum, the identification of molecular markers and studies of malaria transmission blocking drugs. However, gametocytes differences between Plasmodium species are remarkable. P. falciparum gametocytes are sickle-shaped and take 10 to 14 days to mature. Gametocytes of Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium knowlesi, Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium malariae have circular shape and develop in 30-48 hours. Molecular markers identified in P. falciparum do not seem to be exclusive to P. vivax and P. knowlesi gametocytes. In the case of P. knowlesi, the number of gametocytes in culture is very low, making the study difficult.Different protocols are used to generate gametocytes in vitro, but few have been tested in P. knowlesi. Recently, researchers have used transgenic parasites to induce gametocytogenesis in a controlled manner, exponentially increasing the number of sexual forms. The objective of this project is to generate protocols for inducing gametocytogenesis in P. knowlesi, adapting protocols used in P. falciparum and creating a transgenic line that can have gametocytogenesis induced.