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Advances in molecular genetic systems in malaria

journal contribution
posted on 2015-01-01, 00:00 authored by Tania De Koning-WardTania De Koning-Ward, P R Gilson, B S Crabb
Robust tools for analysing gene function in Plasmodium parasites, which are the causative agents of malaria, are being developed at an accelerating rate. Two decades after genetic technologies for use in Plasmodium spp. were first described, a range of genetic tools are now available. These include conditional systems that can regulate gene expression at the genome, transcriptional or protein level, as well as more sophisticated tools for gene editing that use piggyBac transposases, integrases, zinc-finger nucleases or the CRISPR-Cas9 system. In this Review, we discuss the molecular genetic systems that are currently available for use in Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium berghei, and evaluate the advantages and limitations of these tools. We examine the insights that have been gained into the function of genes that are important during the blood stages of the parasites, which may help to guide the development and improvement of drug therapies and vaccines.

History

Journal

Nature reviews microbiology

Volume

13

Issue

6

Pagination

373 - 387

Publisher

Nature Publishing Group

Location

London, Eng.

ISSN

1740-1526

eISSN

1740-1534

Language

eng

Publication classification

C Journal article; C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2015, Nature Publishing Group