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Comment
. 2019 Jun;35(6):381-383.
doi: 10.1016/j.pt.2019.03.012. Epub 2019 Apr 30.

Commitment Isn't for Everyone

Gabrielle A Josling  1 , Manuel Llinás  2
Affiliations
Comment

Commitment Isn't for Everyone

Gabrielle A Josling et al. Trends Parasitol. 2019 Jun.

Abstract

The majority of malaria parasites during human infection are asexual and are unable to be transmitted to mosquitoes. Only sexually differentiated parasites (gametocytes) can be successfully transmitted to complete the lifecycle. In a recent study by Bancells et al. (Nat. Microbiol. 2019;4:144-154), a new route of sexual conversion is identified that does not require a prior round of replication.

Keywords: Plasmodium falciparum; commitment; gametocyte; malaria; sexual stage.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Model showing the two routes to sexual conversion in P. falciparum.
PfAP2-G-positive cells are shown in red. In the case of next cycle conversion (NCC), PfAP2-G expression begins in trophozoites and results in every merozoite in a single schizont also expressing PfAP2-G. Following re-invasion, these parasites develop into committed rings and then into stage I gametocytes. Alternatively, in same cycle conversion (SCC) PfAP2-G is first expressed in early rings. These parasites develop directly into stage I gametocytes without undergoing replication, egress, and re-invasion. This means that a single PfAP2-G-negative schizont can have both asexual and sexual progeny in the following cycle.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment on

References

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