Plasmodium sporozoite motility: an update

GEORGINA N. MONTAGNA; KAI MATUSCHEWSKI; CARLOS A BUSCAGLIA

FRONTIERS IN BIOSCIENCE-LANDMARK

FRONTIERS IN BIOSCIENCE INC

Lugar: Albertson, NY, USA; Año: 2012

1093-9946

Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria,employs its own actin/myosin-based motor for forwardlocomotion, penetration of molecular and cellular barriers,and invasion of target cells. The sporozoite is uniqueamongst the extracellular Plasmodium developmentalforms in that it has to cross considerable distances anddifferent tissues inside the mosquito and vertebrate hosts toultimately reach a parenchymal liver cell, the proper targetcell where to transform and replicate. Throughout thisdangerous journey, the parasite alternates between beingpassively transported by the body fluids and using its ownactive cellular motility to seamlessly glide throughextracellular matrix and cell barriers. But irrespective of thechosen path, the sporozoite is compelled to keep on movingat a fairly fast pace to escape destruction by host defensemechanisms. Here, we highlight and discuss recent findingscollected in Plasmodium sporozoites and related parasitesthat shed new light on the biological significance ofapicomplexan motility and on the structure and regulationof the underlying motor machinery.