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The roles of temperature, pH and mosquito factors as triggers of male and female gametogenesis of Plasmodium berghei in vitro

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 1997

O. BILLKER
Affiliation:
Molecular and Cellular Parasitology Research Group, Infection and Immunity Section, Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London SW7 2BB, UK
M. K. SHAW
Affiliation:
Molecular and Cellular Parasitology Research Group, Infection and Immunity Section, Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London SW7 2BB, UK
G. MARGOS
Affiliation:
Molecular and Cellular Parasitology Research Group, Infection and Immunity Section, Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London SW7 2BB, UK
R. E. SINDEN
Affiliation:
Molecular and Cellular Parasitology Research Group, Infection and Immunity Section, Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London SW7 2BB, UK

Abstract

Developmentally arrested malarial gametocytes undergo gamete formation in the mosquito midgut immediately after ingestion of the infected bloodmeal. In the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei male gametogenesis (exflagellation) can be induced in vitro by a temperature decrease (from 39°C in the vertebrate host to 20°C) and a concomitant pH increase (from 7·3 in mouse blood to 8·0). We report the presence of additional Gametocyte Activating Factor(s) (GAF) present in Anopheles stephensi tissue extracts, which induce both male and female gametogenesis at the otherwise non-permissive pH of 7·3 in vitro but are unable to overcome the low temperature requirement. All constituent cellular events of microgametogenesis studied here are induced by the same triggers in vitro. A temperature decrease is also required for exflagellation in the mosquito midgut. The possible role of GAF as a second obligatory natural trigger of gametogenesis is discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
1997 Cambridge University Press

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