Elucidation of the molecular basis of species-specific infection mechanism of malaria parasite sporozoites

Objectives

The objectives of this study are to:

1. investigate the role of host cell recognition molecules in the mechanism of hepatocyte parasitism by sporozoites;
2. generate chimeric sporozoites and verify whether the combination of P36 and its paralogs across different malaria parasite species determines the type of hepatocyte receptor utilized for infection;
3. identify host or parasite molecules that interact with P36 or with candidate hepatocyte receptors involved in sporozoite invasion; and
4. elucidate the intracellular signaling pathways in sporozoites that contribute to hepatocyte infection.