# name
Artemisinin exposure at the ring or trophozoite stage impacts
Plasmodium falciparum sexual conversion differently.

# metadata.dc.description.abstract[].value
--- - Malaria transmission is dependent on the formation of
                gametocytes in the human blood. The sexual conversion rate, the
                proportion of asexual parasites that convert into gametocytes at
                each multiplication cycle, is variable and reflects the relative
                parasite investment between transmission and maintaining the
                infection. The impact of environmental factors such as drugs on
                sexual conversion rates is not well understood. We developed a
                robust assay using gametocyte-reporter parasite lines to
                accurately measure the impact of drugs on sexual conversion
                rates, independently from their gametocytocidal activity. We
                found that exposure to subcurative doses of the frontline
                antimalarial drug dihydroartemisinin (DHA) at the trophozoite
                stage resulted in a ~ fourfold increase in sexual conversion. In
                contrast, no increase was observed when ring stages were exposed
                or in cultures in which sexual conversion was stimulated by
                choline depletion. Our results reveal a complex relationship
                between antimalarial drugs and sexual conversion, with potential
                public health implications.

# metadata.dc.rights[].value
cc by (c) Portugaliza, Harvie P. et al., 2020

# metadata.dc.source[].value
Articles publicats en revistes (ISGlobal)

# metadata.dc.title[].value
Artemisinin exposure at the ring or trophozoite stage impacts
Plasmodium falciparum sexual conversion differently.