F. Frischknecht

Vaccination by single dose sporozoite injection of blood stage attenuated malaria parasites

The paper identifies slow-growing, avirulent malaria parasite mutants that protect against disease after challenge with wild-type parasites.

A non-canonical Arp2/3 complex is essential for Plasmodium DNA segregation and transmission of malaria.

This study identifies a non-canonical Arp2/3 complex in Plasmodium essential for DNA segregation during male gametogenesis and transmission to mosquitoes.

Microtubule inner proteins of Plasmodium are essential for transmission of malaria parasites

This study investigates the role of four MIPs in Plasmodium transmission, finding that two are essential for gamete formation and mosquito transmission.

Conformational change of the Plasmodium TRAP I domain is essential for sporozoite migration and transmission of malaria

This study shows that conformational changes in the Plasmodium TRAP I-domain are essential for sporozoite gliding, salivary gland entry, and malaria transmission.

Form follows function: Variable microtubule architecture in the malaria parasite

The paper uses electron cryo-tomography to study microtubule architecture in malaria parasites across their life cycle, revealing structural diversity not seen in other organisms.

Reversible brain edema in experimental cerebral malaria is associated with transcellular blood-brain barrier disruption and delayed microhemorrhages

This study identifies transcellular blood-brain barrier disruption as a mechanism for reversible brain swelling in experimental cerebral malaria, with implications for therapeutic strategies.

Malaria transmission relies on concavin-mediated maintenance of Plasmodium sporozoite cell shape

This study identifies concavin as a protein essential for maintaining Plasmodium sporozoite shape during mosquito transmission and skin migration, with its absence leading to shape defects and reduced transmission efficiency.

The repeat region of the circumsporozoite protein is an elastic linear spring with a functional role in Plasmodium sporozoite motility

The study identifies the CSP repeat region as a linear spring critical for sporozoite motility and adhesion site formation in malaria parasites.

Asynchronous nuclear cycles in multinucleated Plasmodium falciparum enable rapid proliferation

The paper shows that Plasmodium falciparum nuclei replicate DNA asynchronously, leading to heterogeneous progeny numbers and slower replication during overlapping events.

Fluorescent tagging of Plasmodium circumsporozoite protein allows imaging of sporozoite formation but blocks egress from oocysts

The paper uses fluorescent tagging of CSP to study sporozoite formation and egress, finding some GFP-CSP fusions block egress from oocysts.

Malaria parasites differentially sense environmental elasticity during transmission

This study investigates how malaria parasites adapt their motility to different environmental elasticities during transmission stages.

APEX-based proximity labeling in Plasmodium identifies a membrane protein with dual functions during mosquito infection

The paper uses APEX2-mediated proximity labeling to identify novel proteins in Plasmodium ookinetes, uncovering a membrane protein with dual roles in gamete egress and ookinete migration.

3D imaging of undissected optically cleared Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes infected with Plasmodium parasites

This study uses 3D imaging techniques to visualize Plasmodium parasites in whole, optically cleared Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes without dissection.