Open AccessMigration through host cells: the first steps of Plasmodium sporozoites in the mammalian host
Author(s) -
Mota Maria M.,
Rodriguez Ana
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
cellular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.542
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1462-5822
pISSN - 1462-5814
DOI - 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2004.00460.x
Subject(s) - biology , plasmodium (life cycle) , host (biology) , malaria , parasite hosting , microbiology and biotechnology , virology , vacuole , apicomplexa , immunology , plasmodium falciparum , genetics , cytoplasm , world wide web , computer science
Summary Malaria starts with the infection of the liver by Plasmodium sporozoites. This form of the parasite migrates through several host cells breaching their plasma membranes before infecting a final hepatocyte which they enter forming a parasitophorous vacuole. It is still controversial why Plasmodium sporozoites migrate through host cells. By reviewing the most recent literature, we hope to give an insight on the different steps of host invasion in which migration through cells is involved and on the possible role for this mechanism in infection.