Abstract
In vertebrate hosts, malaria parasites produce specialized male and female sexual stages (gametocytes). Soon after being taken up by a mosquito, gametocytes rapidly produce gametes and, once mated, they infect their vector and can be transmitted to new hosts. Despite being the parasite stages that were first identified (over a century ago), gametocytes have remained elusive, and basic questions remain concerning their biology. However, the postgenomic era has substantiated information on the specialized molecular machinery of gametocytogenesis and expedited the development of molecular tools to detect and quantify gametocytes. The application of such highly sensitive and specific tools has opened up novel approaches and provided new insights into gametocyte biology. Here, we review the discoveries made during the past decade, highlight unanswered questions and suggest new directions.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 525-530 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Trends in Parasitology |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Nov 2008 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
Cite this
Gametocytes : insights gained during a decade of molecular monitoring. / Babiker, Hamza A.; Schneider, Petra; Reece, Sarah E.
In: Trends in Parasitology, Vol. 24, No. 11, 11.2008, p. 525-530.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Gametocytes
T2 - insights gained during a decade of molecular monitoring
AU - Babiker, Hamza A.
AU - Schneider, Petra
AU - Reece, Sarah E.
PY - 2008/11
Y1 - 2008/11
N2 - In vertebrate hosts, malaria parasites produce specialized male and female sexual stages (gametocytes). Soon after being taken up by a mosquito, gametocytes rapidly produce gametes and, once mated, they infect their vector and can be transmitted to new hosts. Despite being the parasite stages that were first identified (over a century ago), gametocytes have remained elusive, and basic questions remain concerning their biology. However, the postgenomic era has substantiated information on the specialized molecular machinery of gametocytogenesis and expedited the development of molecular tools to detect and quantify gametocytes. The application of such highly sensitive and specific tools has opened up novel approaches and provided new insights into gametocyte biology. Here, we review the discoveries made during the past decade, highlight unanswered questions and suggest new directions.
AB - In vertebrate hosts, malaria parasites produce specialized male and female sexual stages (gametocytes). Soon after being taken up by a mosquito, gametocytes rapidly produce gametes and, once mated, they infect their vector and can be transmitted to new hosts. Despite being the parasite stages that were first identified (over a century ago), gametocytes have remained elusive, and basic questions remain concerning their biology. However, the postgenomic era has substantiated information on the specialized molecular machinery of gametocytogenesis and expedited the development of molecular tools to detect and quantify gametocytes. The application of such highly sensitive and specific tools has opened up novel approaches and provided new insights into gametocyte biology. Here, we review the discoveries made during the past decade, highlight unanswered questions and suggest new directions.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=54349113269&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.pt.2008.08.001
DO - 10.1016/j.pt.2008.08.001
M3 - Article
C2 - 18801702
AN - SCOPUS:54349113269
VL - 24
SP - 525
EP - 530
JO - Trends in Parasitology
JF - Trends in Parasitology
SN - 1471-4922
IS - 11
ER -