Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42777009›Full record

ArticlePLoS pathogens2026

The translatome of quiescent Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes reveals parasite pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) biosynthesis is essential for efficient mosquito stage development.

Eduardo Alves, Jack W Houghton, Lindsay B Stewart, Mufuliat T Famodimu, Rosie Bridgwater, Mariana Reis Wunderlich, Naoki Matoba, Annie Z Tremp, Michaela Bikarova, Jianan Lu and 4 more

Abstract read
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Article in PLoS pathogens, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Eduardo AlvesDepartment of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Jack W HoughtonDepartment of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Lindsay B StewartDepartment of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Mufuliat T FamodimuDepartment of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Rosie BridgwaterDepartment of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Mariana Reis WunderlichLSHTM Malaria Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Naoki MatobaDepartment of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Annie Z TrempDepartment of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Michaela BikarovaDepartment of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Jianan LuDepartment of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, White City Campus, London, United Kingdom.
Mojca KristanLSHTM Malaria Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Colin J SutherlandDepartment of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Edward W TateDepartment of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, White City Campus, London, United Kingdom.
Michael J DelvesDepartment of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8526-4782

Funding

Wellcome Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The ability of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes to remain quiescent within the vertebrate host but poised for rapid onward development in the mosquito is an adaptation essential to maximise the onward spread of malaria. In this dormant state, mature infectious stage V gametocytes are largely unaffected by most antimalarial drugs and our limited understanding of how gametocytes prepare for mosquito transmission has hindered the identification of new molecular targets for transmission-blocking therapeutics. In this study, we move beyond the total proteome of gametocytes and define the translatome of mature stage V gametocytes using L-azidohomoalanine incorporation into nascent proteins, click chemistry purification and proteomic analysis. We identify the proteins and pathways that gametocytes sustain in preparation for transmission during this dormant period and through genetic disruption, we validate this approach by demonstrating the importance of parasite pyridoxal 5'-phosphate biosynthesis for mosquito transmission.

Indexed as

CulicidaeMalaria, FalciparumPlasmodium falciparumProtozoan ProteinsPyridoxal PhosphateAnimalsAnophelesProteomeProteomicsProteomeProtozoan ProteinsPyridoxal Phosphate

Identifiers

PMID42777009
PMCPMC13626478

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.