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. 2025 Sep 11;389(6765):eady0241.
doi: 10.1126/science.ady0241. Epub 2025 Sep 11.

Cryo-EM structure of endogenous Plasmodium falciparum Pfs230 and Pfs48/45 fertilization complex

Melanie H Dietrich  1   2 , Jill Chmielewski  1   2 , Li-Jin Chan  1   2 , Li Lynn Tan  1 , Amy Adair  1 , Frankie M T Lyons  1   2 , Mikha Gabriela  1   2 , Sash Lopaticki  1   3 , Toby A Dite  1   2 , Laura F Dagley  1   2 , Lucia Pazzagli  4 , Priya Gupta  4 , Mohd Kamil  4 , Ashley M Vaughan  4   5 , Rattanaporn Rojrung  6 , Anju Abraham  1 , Ramin Mazhari  1   2 , Rhea J Longley  1   2   7 , Kathleen Zeglinski  1   2 , Quentin Gouil  1   2   8   9 , Ivo Mueller  1   2   10 , Stewart A Fabb  11 , Rekha Shandre-Mugan  11 , Colin W Pouton  11 , Alisa Glukhova  1   2   12   13   14 , Shabih Shakeel  1   2   12   14 , Wai-Hong Tham  1   2   15
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Cryo-EM structure of endogenous Plasmodium falciparum Pfs230 and Pfs48/45 fertilization complex

Melanie H Dietrich et al. Science. .

Abstract

Malaria parasite fertilization occurs in the midgut of a female Anopheles mosquito. Blocking fertilization within the mosquito can prevent malaria transmission. Plasmodium falciparum Pfs230 and Pfs48/45 proteins are critical for male fertility and transmission of the malaria parasite. They form a core fertilization complex, but it is unknown how they interact. We determined a cryo-electron microscopy structure of the endogenous Pfs230-Pfs48/45 complex showing that Pfs48/45 interacts with Pfs230 domains 13 and 14. Transgenic parasite lines with these domains removed were defective in Pfs230 gamete localization and showed reduced oocyst formation. Nanobodies against domains 13 and 14 inhibited Pfs230-Pfs48/45 complex formation and reduced transmission, and structural analyses revealed their epitopes. These Pfs230 domains were targets of naturally acquired immunity and immune sera from messenger RNA lipid nanoparticle immunizations blocked parasite transmission.

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