Open access
Plasmodium protein kinase 2 is required for ookinete-to-oocyst transition and parasite transmission
Sarah L. Pashley
Molly Hair
C. V. Ukegbu
Mohammad Zeeshan
Akancha Mishra
D. Brady
Robert Markus
Susan Vaughan
Carla Pasquarello
Anthony A. Holder
Alexandre Hainard
G. K. Christophides
D. Vlachou
Pushkar Sharma
D. Guttery
R. Tewari
Medicine
Abstract
PK2 is required for Plasmodium berghei oocyst development and transmission. PK2 depletion impairs ookinete motility and apical microneme organisation, prevents oocyst formation and subsequent sporozoite production, and alters phosphorylation of proteins associated with cytoskeletal organisation, invasion, and host interaction.