The Plasmodium falciparum rhoptry protein RhopH3 plays essential roles in host cell invasion and nutrient uptake

• DOI: 10.7554/elife.23239
• Publication Date: 2017-03-02T13:00:07Z
• Authors: Emma S Sherling; Ellen Knuepfer; Joseph A Brzostowski; Louis H Miller; Michael J Blackman; Christiaan van Ooij
• Keywords: Rhoptry; Plasmodium (life cycle); Organelle

Merozoites of the protozoan parasite responsible for most virulent form malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, invade erythrocytes. Invasion involves discharge rhoptries, specialized secretory organelles. Once intracellular, parasites induce increased nutrient uptake by generating new permeability pathways (NPP) including a surface anion channel (PSAC). RhopH1/Clag3, one member three-protein RhopH complex, is important PSAC/NPP activity. However, roles other members complex in establishment are unknown and it unclear whether any proteins play role invasion. Here we demonstrate that RhopH3, smallest component essential survival. Conditional truncation RhopH3 substantially reduces invasive capacity. Those mutant do defective import die. Our results identify dual links erythrocyte invasion to formation survival within host