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K-State Today

November 21, 2012

PLOS One study characterizes protein that is an indicator for malaria parasite infection in mosquitoes

Submitted by Communications and Marketing

The biology laboratory directed by Kristin Michel, assistant professor of biology, has published "Biochemical Characterization of Anopheles gambiae SRPN6, a Malaria Parasite Invasion Marker in Mosquitoes" in PLOS One. 

The study describes the biochemical and biophysical properties of SRPN6, a protein that is an indicator for malaria parasite infection in mosquitoes. SRPN6 limits parasite infection, which has consequences to disease transmission. The data presented in the current paper now offers an explanation of its mode of action and opens up new research avenues. Ultimately, the hope is to use this knowledge to design novel malaria intervention strategies.

The study can be read at http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0048689.

The study, which was lead by Michel's laboratory, is a collaborative effort of three labs in the biology and biochemistry departments, and was enabled by the expertise and technological support of the Biotechnology/Proteomics Core Lab at Kansas State University.