Checks and balances? DNA replication and the cell cycle in Plasmodium
Abstract It is over 100 years since the life-cycle of the malaria parasite Plasmodium was discovered, yet its intricacies remain incompletely understood - a knowledge gap that may prove crucial for our efforts to control the disease. Phenotypic screens have partially filled the void in the antimalar...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-03-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-018-2800-1 |
| _version_ | 1818203651460562944 |
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| author | Holly Matthews Craig W. Duffy Catherine J. Merrick |
| author_facet | Holly Matthews Craig W. Duffy Catherine J. Merrick |
| author_sort | Holly Matthews |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract It is over 100 years since the life-cycle of the malaria parasite Plasmodium was discovered, yet its intricacies remain incompletely understood - a knowledge gap that may prove crucial for our efforts to control the disease. Phenotypic screens have partially filled the void in the antimalarial drug market, but as compound libraries eventually become exhausted, new medicines will only come from directed drug development based on a better understanding of fundamental parasite biology. This review focusses on the unusual cell cycles of Plasmodium, which may present a rich source of novel drug targets as well as a topic of fundamental biological interest. Plasmodium does not grow by conventional binary fission, but rather by several syncytial modes of replication including schizogony and sporogony. Here, we collate what is known about the various cell cycle events and their regulators throughout the Plasmodium life-cycle, highlighting the differences between Plasmodium, model organisms and other apicomplexan parasites and identifying areas where further study is required. The possibility of DNA replication and the cell cycle as a drug target is also explored. Finally the use of existing tools, emerging technologies, their limitations and future directions to elucidate the peculiarities of the Plasmodium cell cycle are discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T03:28:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-698ed6d1f7e441c893c5ae9894fc2faa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T03:28:44Z |
| publishDate | 2018-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-698ed6d1f7e441c893c5ae9894fc2faa2022-12-22T00:39:58ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052018-03-0111111310.1186/s13071-018-2800-1Checks and balances? DNA replication and the cell cycle in PlasmodiumHolly Matthews0Craig W. Duffy1Catherine J. Merrick2Centre for Applied Entomology and Parasitology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Keele UniversityCentre for Applied Entomology and Parasitology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Keele UniversityCentre for Applied Entomology and Parasitology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Keele UniversityAbstract It is over 100 years since the life-cycle of the malaria parasite Plasmodium was discovered, yet its intricacies remain incompletely understood - a knowledge gap that may prove crucial for our efforts to control the disease. Phenotypic screens have partially filled the void in the antimalarial drug market, but as compound libraries eventually become exhausted, new medicines will only come from directed drug development based on a better understanding of fundamental parasite biology. This review focusses on the unusual cell cycles of Plasmodium, which may present a rich source of novel drug targets as well as a topic of fundamental biological interest. Plasmodium does not grow by conventional binary fission, but rather by several syncytial modes of replication including schizogony and sporogony. Here, we collate what is known about the various cell cycle events and their regulators throughout the Plasmodium life-cycle, highlighting the differences between Plasmodium, model organisms and other apicomplexan parasites and identifying areas where further study is required. The possibility of DNA replication and the cell cycle as a drug target is also explored. Finally the use of existing tools, emerging technologies, their limitations and future directions to elucidate the peculiarities of the Plasmodium cell cycle are discussed.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-018-2800-1MalariaPlasmodiumCell cycleReplication |
| spellingShingle | Holly Matthews Craig W. Duffy Catherine J. Merrick Checks and balances? DNA replication and the cell cycle in Plasmodium Parasites & Vectors Malaria Plasmodium Cell cycle Replication |
| title | Checks and balances? DNA replication and the cell cycle in Plasmodium |
| title_full | Checks and balances? DNA replication and the cell cycle in Plasmodium |
| title_fullStr | Checks and balances? DNA replication and the cell cycle in Plasmodium |
| title_full_unstemmed | Checks and balances? DNA replication and the cell cycle in Plasmodium |
| title_short | Checks and balances? DNA replication and the cell cycle in Plasmodium |
| title_sort | checks and balances dna replication and the cell cycle in plasmodium |
| topic | Malaria Plasmodium Cell cycle Replication |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-018-2800-1 |
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