The surface protein Pvs25 of Plasmodium vivax ookinetes interacts with calreticulin on the midgut apical surface of the malaria vector Anopheles albimanus

Mol Biochem Parasitol. 2007 Jun;153(2):167-77. doi: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2007.03.002. Epub 2007 Mar 12.

Abstract

Malaria parasite transmission-blocking control strategies within the mosquito vector require an adequate understanding of the parasite mosquito interaction at the molecular level. The ookinete P25-P28 surface proteins are required for the transition from ookinete to oocyst in the mosquito midgut; however, their respective molecular interactions in the mosquito are largely unknown. We used recombinant Pvs25 and Pvs28 as probes for identification of potential Anopheles albimanus midgut ligands. A 50 kDa protein interacted with Pvs25 but not with Pvs28 in blot overlay assays. This protein was identified as calreticulin by LS MS and was detected in membrane, but not in soluble midgut protein extracts. Calreticulin was detected in An. albimanus midgut microvilli by immunofluorescence analysis. The An. albimanus calreticulin cDNA was cloned and recombinant calreticulin was shown to interact with recombinant Pvs25 in overlay and co-immunoprecipitation assays, confirming the interaction of the two proteins. The Pvs25-calreticulin interaction in vivo could represent a potential target for developing transmission blocking strategies based on interfering the parasite-midgut interaction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Anopheles* / genetics
  • Anopheles* / metabolism
  • Anopheles* / parasitology
  • Antigens, Protozoan / chemistry
  • Antigens, Protozoan / genetics
  • Antigens, Protozoan / metabolism*
  • Antigens, Surface / chemistry
  • Antigens, Surface / genetics
  • Antigens, Surface / metabolism*
  • Base Sequence
  • Calreticulin / chemistry
  • Calreticulin / genetics
  • Calreticulin / metabolism*
  • Chromobox Protein Homolog 5
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Digestive System* / metabolism
  • Digestive System* / parasitology
  • Humans
  • Insect Vectors* / genetics
  • Insect Vectors* / metabolism
  • Insect Vectors* / parasitology
  • Malaria Vaccines / chemistry
  • Malaria Vaccines / genetics
  • Malaria Vaccines / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Plasmodium vivax / growth & development
  • Plasmodium vivax / metabolism*
  • Plasmodium vivax / physiology
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA

Substances

  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • Antigens, Surface
  • CBX5 protein, human
  • Calreticulin
  • Malaria Vaccines
  • Pvs25 protein, P vivax
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Chromobox Protein Homolog 5

Associated data

  • GENBANK/DQ206710