Characterization of the protein encoded by the PBANKA_1459100 gene as a gametogenesis activation receptor in Plasmodium

• Grant number: 25/05871-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: November 01, 2025
• End date: October 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Protozoology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Daniel Youssef Bargieri
• Grantee: Janaína Tenorio Novais
• Supervisor: Mathieu Brochet
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Université de Genève, Switzerland
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/00431-3 - Characterization of the protein encoded by the PBANKA_1459100 gene as a gametogenesis activation receptor in Plasmodium, BP.DD

Abstract

Malaria is an ancient disease that has played a significant role in human history. In 2022 alone, 249 million cases were reported across 85 endemic countries, resulting in 608,000 deaths. The parasite's lifecycle is complex, and effectively treating and preventing malaria requires the development of strategies that target key stages of the lifecycle. To facilitate the study of transmission-blocking strategies, our group developed a novel tool for high-throughput screening of zygote and ookinete formation based on P. berghei. The transgenic parasite, named PbOokluc, expresses the nanoluciferase enzyme exclusively after zygote formation, enabling the detection of zygote and ookinete presence through a luminescence-based assay. Using this tool, we identified that the gene PBANKA_1459100 is essential for fertilization. The gene depletion blocks gametocyte activation, thereby preventing gamete formation and disrupting the continuation of the parasite's sexual cycle. By correlating known processes involved in gametocyte activation with the results obtained from studies using PBANKA_1459100KO parasites, we hypothesize that this protein plays a role in calcium mobilization pathways. To investigate this hypothesis, we propose a BEPE fellowship in collaboration with Dr. Mathieu Brochet's group, renowned for studies in this field. Leveraging the advanced techniques developed by the Brochet group to explore the potential role of the Pb1459100 protein in calcium mobilization pathways will enhance the quality of my research and contribute to elucidating its function. (AU)