{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Vector Signals","title":"Mosquito Prefoldin Targeting Blocks Plasmodium Transmission (March 2025)","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/2baa73fd\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1182,"description":"Briefing Document: Targeting the Mosquito Prefoldin–Chaperonin Complex to Block Plasmodium Transmission\nCitation: Dong, Y., Kang, S., Sandiford, S.L. et al. Targeting the mosquito prefoldin–chaperonin complex blocks Plasmodium transmission. Nat Microbiol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-025-01947-3Date: Received - 22 November 2024 | Accepted - 27 January 2025 | Published - 06 March 2025\nOverview:This study investigates the role of the conserved Anopheles mosquito prefoldin (PFDN)–chaperonin (CCT/TRiC) system as a potential target for blocking the transmission of multiple Plasmodium species. The researchers demonstrate that disrupting this protein folding complex in mosquitoes, either through gene silencing or antibody inhibition, significantly reduces Plasmodium infection intensity and prevalence. The mechanism of action involves compromising the integrity of the mosquito midgut, leading to immune activation and the disruption of the parasite's immune evasion strategies. The findings suggest that the PFDN–chaperonin complex, particularly the PFDN6 subunit, holds promise as a multispecies transmission-blocking vaccine (TBV) target.Main Themes and Important Ideas/Facts:The Mosquito PFDN–Chaperonin Complex is Essential for Plasmodium Infection:The Plasmodium infection cycle in mosquitoes relies on various host factors in the midgut.The mosquito prefoldin complex is crucial for the proper folding of proteins and macromolecular complexes, including actin and tubulin, which are essential for cell division, motility, cytoskeletal stability, and signal transduction – all of which influence Plasmodium infection.Silencing any of the six PFDN subunits (Pfdn1-6) or the CCT4 subunit via RNA interference significantly reduced Plasmodium falciparum oocyst loads in the Anopheles gambiae midgut.\"Silencing any prefoldin subunit or its CCT/TRiC partner via RNA interference reduces Plasmodium falciparum oocyst loads in the mosquito midgut...\"Co-silencing of different PFDN...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/qJYlR2Phxe3IMx6KHnsmKp1D71DIqj8LuYMSrDKo9Jc/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS82MDgx/MDIyNmJkNWU5YmIz/NzJhZDVmZjYyOGZi/NTgxMi53ZWJw.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}