Encystation and Stress Responses under the Control of Ubiquitin-like Proteins in Pathogenic Amoebae.

Amoebae found in aquatic and terrestrial environments encompass various pathogenic species, including the parasite and the free-living . Both microorganisms pose significant threats to public health, capable of inducing life-threatening effects on humans. These amoebae exist in two cellular forms: trophozoites and cysts.

Protection against malaria in mice is induced by blood stage-arresting histamine-releasing factor (HRF)-deficient parasites.

Although most vaccines against blood stage malaria in development today use subunit preparations, live attenuated parasites confer significantly broader and more lasting protection. In recent years, Plasmodium genetically attenuated parasites (GAPs) have been generated in rodent models that cause self-resolving blood stage infections and induce strong protection. All such GAPs generated so far bear mutations in housekeeping genes important for parasite development in red blood cells.