Malaria parasite evades mosquito immunity by glutaminyl cyclase-mediated posttranslational protein modification.

Glutaminyl cyclase (QC) modifies N-terminal glutamine or glutamic acid residues of target proteins into cyclic pyroglutamic acid (pGlu). Here, we report the biochemical and functional analysis of QC. We show that sporozoites of QC-null mutants of rodent and human malaria parasites are recognized by the mosquito immune system and melanized when they reach the hemocoel.

A genotyping assay to determine geographic origin and transmission potential of Plasmodium falciparum malaria cases.

As countries work towards malaria elimination, it is important to monitor imported cases to prevent reestablishment of local transmission. The Plasmodium falciparum Pfs47 gene has strong geographic population structure, because only those parasites with Pfs47 haplotypes compatible with the mosquito vector species in a given continent are efficiently transmitted. Analysis of 4,971 world-wide Pfs47 sequences identified two SNPs (at 707 and 725 bp) as sufficient to establish the likely continent of origin of P.

Age-associated expression of p21and p53 during human wound healing.

In mice, cellular senescence and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) positively contribute to cutaneous wound healing. In this proof-of-concept study, we investigated the expressions of p16, p21, and other senescence-associated biomarkers during human wound healing in 24 healthy subjects using a double-biopsy experimental design. The first punch biopsy created the wound and established the baseline.