Scientific Publications by FDA Staff
Eukaryot Cell 2011 Apr;10(4):474-82
Mitosis in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.
Gerald N, Mahajan B, Kumar S
Malaria is caused by intra-erythrocytic protozoan parasites belonging to Plasmodium spp. (phylum Apicomplexa) that produce significant morbidity and mortality, mostly in developing countries. Plasmodium parasites have a complex lifecycle that includes multiple stages in anopheline mosquito vectors and vertebrate hosts. During the lifecycle, the parasites undergo several cycles of extreme population growth within a brief span, and this is critical for their continued transmission and a contributing factor for their pathogenesis in the host. Similar to other eukaryotes, successful mitosis is an essential requirement for Plasmodium reproduction, however, some aspects of Plasmodium mitosis are quite distinct and not fully understood. In this review, we will discuss the current understanding of the architecture and key events of mitosis in Plasmodium falciparum (P.f.) and related parasites, and compare it with the traditional mitotic events as described in other eukaryotes.
|Category: Journal Article, Review|
|PubMed ID: #21317311||DOI: 10.1128/EC.00314-10|
|Includes FDA Authors from Scientific Area(s): Biologics|
|Entry Created: 2011-10-03||Entry Last Modified: 2012-08-29|