CHARACTERIZATION OF A PLASMODIUM-FALCIPARUM MUTANT THAT HAS DELETED THE MAJORITY OF THE GAMETOCYTE-SPECIFIC PF11-1 LOCUS

We identified a gametocyte-specific protein of Plasmodium falciparum c alled Pf11-1 and provide experimental evidence that this molecule is i nvolved in the emergence of gametes of the infected erythrocyte (gamet ogenesis). A mutant parasite clone, which has deleted over 90% of the Pf11-1 gene locus, was an important control to establish the gametocyt e-specific expression of the Pf11-1. Molecular analysis of the Pf11-1 deletion indicates that it is presumably due to a chromosome breakage with subsequent 'healing' by the addition of telomeric heptanucleotide s. Moreover, similar DNA rearrangements are observed in most of the la boratory isolates during a sexual propagation in vitro.