Revisiting the determinants of malaria transmission

Lauriane Sollelis; Virginia M Howick; Matthias Marti

doi:10.1016/j.pt.2024.02.001

Revisiting the determinants of malaria transmission

Trends Parasitol. 2024 Apr;40(4):302-312. doi: 10.1016/j.pt.2024.02.001. Epub 2024 Mar 4.

Authors

Lauriane Sollelis¹, Virginia M Howick², Matthias Marti³

Affiliations

¹ Wellcome Center for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection and Immunity University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK; Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
² Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland; Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health, and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
³ Wellcome Center for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection and Immunity University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK; Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 38443304
DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2024.02.001

Abstract

Malaria parasites have coevolved with humans over thousands of years, mirroring their migration out of Africa. They persist to this day, despite continuous elimination efforts worldwide. These parasites can adapt to changing environments during infection of human and mosquito, and when expanding the geographical range by switching vector species. Recent studies in the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, identified determinants governing the plasticity of sexual conversion rates, sex ratio, and vector competence. Here we summarize the latest literature revealing environmental, epigenetic, and genetic determinants of malaria transmission.

Keywords: Plasmodium falciparum; environmental sensing; gametocyte; malaria; transmission.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Culicidae* / parasitology
Humans
Malaria* / parasitology
Malaria, Falciparum* / parasitology
Mosquito Vectors
Plasmodium falciparum / genetics