Transcriptional heterogeneity and tightly regulated changes in gene expression duringPlasmodium bergheisporozoite development

Significance A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the development ofPlasmodium parasites inAnopheles mosquitoes would facilitate the development of malaria vaccines and of novel strategies to interrupt disease transmission. We characterized, at the single-cell level, the gene expression profiles of sporozoites from the rodent malaria parasitePlasmodium berghei , throughout their development in mosquitoes and upon salivation. Our analyses reveal heterogeneity in gene expression among parasites isolated from the same anatomical location, suggesting that parasite development is asynchronous in mosquitoes. In addition, our results highlight the role of gene expression changes in regulating the ability of sporozoites to remain quiescent in the salivary glands, and their rapid reactivation upon salivation.