ArticleParasites & vectors2016
Characterization of a Plasmodium berghei sexual stage antigen PbPH as a new candidate for malaria transmission-blocking vaccine.
Article in Parasites & vectors, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 18 papers.
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Who cites it
18 citing papers in PubMed, 31 citations in OpenAlex.
- Nanobody-mediated targeting of Plasmodium falciparum PfPIMMS43 can block malaria transmission in mosquitoes.Communications biology · 2025Article
- An inner membrane complex protein IMC1g inmBio · 2025Article
- A dual-antigen malaria vaccine targeting Pb22 and Pbg37 was able to induce robust transmission-blocking activity.Parasites & vectors · 2023Article
- Article
- Dissecting The role ofEmerging microbes & infections · 2022Article
- A G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Modulates Gametogenesis via PKG-Mediated Signaling Cascade in Plasmodium berghei.Microbiology spectrum · 2022Article
- Transmission-Blocking Strategies Against Malaria Parasites During Their Mosquito Stages.Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2022Review
- Evaluation of two Plasmodium vivax sexual stage antigens as transmission-blocking vaccine candidates.Parasites & vectors · 2021Article
- A conserved malaria parasite antigen Pb22 plays a critical role in male gametogenesis in Plasmodium berghei.Cellular microbiology · 2021Article
- Identification of Novel Malaria Transmission-Blocking Vaccine Candidates.Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2021Review
- Plasmodium berghei LAPs form an extended protein complex that facilitates crystalloid targeting and biogenesis.Journal of proteomics · 2020Article
- Malaria transmission-blocking vaccines: wheat germ cell-free technology can accelerate vaccine development.Expert review of vaccines · 2019Review
- Plasmodium berghei serine/threonine protein phosphatase PP5 plays a critical role in male gamete fertility.International journal for parasitology · 2019Article
- An MFS-Domain Protein Pb115 Plays a Critical Role in Gamete Fertilization of the Malaria ParasiteFrontiers in microbiology · 2019Article
- Identification of a PH domain-containing protein which is localized to crystalloid bodies of Plasmodium ookinetes.Malaria journal · 2018Article
- Characterization of Pb51 in Plasmodium berghei as a malaria vaccine candidate targeting both asexual erythrocytic proliferation and transmission.Malaria journal · 2017Article
- Erratum to: Characterization of a Plasmodium berghei sexual stage antigen PbPH as a new candidate for malaria transmission-blocking vaccine.Parasites & vectors · 2017Article
- Functional characterization of Plasmodium berghei PSOP25 during ookinete development and as a malaria transmission-blocking vaccine candidate.Parasites & vectors · 2017Article
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
9 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundTransmission-blocking vaccines (TBVs) are a promising strategy for malaria control and elimination. However, candidate TBV antigens are currently limited, highlighting the urgency of identifying new antigens for TBV development.
methodsUsing a combination of bioinformatic analysis and functional studies in the rodent malaria model Plasmodium berghei, we identified a conserved Plasmodium protein PbPH (PBANKA_041720) containing a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain. The expression of PbPH was detected by Western blot and indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). The function of PbPH was tested by genetic knockout. The TB activity was confirmed by in vitro ookinete conversion assay and mosquito feeding.
resultsPbPH was detected in Western blot as highly expressed in sexual stages (gametocytes and ookinetes). IFA revealed localizations of PbPH on the surface of gametes, zygotes, and ookinetes. Deletion of the pbph gene did not affect asexual growth, but significantly reduced the formation of gametocytes, ookinetes, and oocysts, indicating that PbPH protein is required for parasite sexual development. Recombinant PbPH expressed and purified from bacteria elicited strong antibody responses in mice and the antibodies significantly inhibited exflagellation of male gametocytes and formation of ookinetes in a concentration-dependent manner. Mosquito feeding experiments confirmed that mosquitoes fed on mice immunized with PbPH had 13 % reduction in the prevalence of infection and almost 48 % reduction in oocyst density.
conclusionsPbph is a highly conserved Plasmodium gene and is required for parasite sexual development. PbPH protein is expressed on the surface of gametes and ookinetes. Immunization of mice against the recombinant PbPH protein induced strong antibody responses that effectively reduced the formation of male gametes and ookinetes in vitro and blocked transmission of the parasites to mosquitoes. These results highlight PbPH as a potential TBV candidate that is worth future investigations in human malaria parasites.
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