Sexual development in Plasmodium parasites: knowing when it's time to commit

摘要: Malaria is a devastating infectious disease that caused by blood-borne apicomplexan parasites of the genus Plasmodium. These pathogens have complex lifecycle, which includes development in anopheline mosquito vector and liver red blood cells mammalian hosts, process takes days to weeks, depending on Plasmodium species. Productive transmission between host requires transitioning asexual sexual forms parasite. Blood- stage replicate cyclically are mostly asexual, although small fraction these convert into male female (gametocytes) each reproductive cycle. Despite many years investigation, molecular processes elicit differentiation remained largely unknown. In this Review, we highlight several important recent discoveries identified epigenetic factors specific transcriptional regulators gametocyte commitment development, providing crucial insights obligate cellular process.