A single-cell atlas of Plasmodium falciparum transmission through the mosquito

Eliana Real, Virginia M. Howick, Farah A. Dahalan, Kathrin Witmer, Juliana Cudini, Clare Andradi-Brown, Joshua Blight, Mira S. Davidson, Sunil Kumar Dogga, Adam J. Reid, Jake Baum () and Mara K. N. Lawniczak ()
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Eliana Real: Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London
Virginia M. Howick: Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute
Farah A. Dahalan: Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London
Kathrin Witmer: Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London
Juliana Cudini: Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute
Clare Andradi-Brown: Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London
Joshua Blight: Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London
Mira S. Davidson: Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London
Sunil Kumar Dogga: Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute
Adam J. Reid: Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute
Jake Baum: Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London
Mara K. N. Lawniczak: Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Malaria parasites have a complex life cycle featuring diverse developmental strategies, each uniquely adapted to navigate specific host environments. Here we use single-cell transcriptomics to illuminate gene usage across the transmission cycle of the most virulent agent of human malaria - Plasmodium falciparum. We reveal developmental trajectories associated with the colonization of the mosquito midgut and salivary glands and elucidate the transcriptional signatures of each transmissible stage. Additionally, we identify both conserved and non-conserved gene usage between human and rodent parasites, which point to both essential mechanisms in malaria transmission and species-specific adaptations potentially linked to host tropism. Together, the data presented here, which are made freely available via an interactive website, provide a fine-grained atlas that enables intensive investigation of the P. falciparum transcriptional journey. As well as providing insights into gene function across the transmission cycle, the atlas opens the door for identification of drug and vaccine targets to stop malaria transmission and thereby prevent disease.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23434-z

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