The Plasmodium falciparum, Nima-related kinase Pfnek-4: a marker for asexual parasites committed to sexual differentiation Full Text
Malaria Journal, 08/09/2012
Reininger L et al. – The results indicate that Pfnek–4 is not strictly gametocyte–specific, and is expressed in a small subset of asexual parasites displaying high rate conversion to sexual development. Pfnek–4 is not required for erythrocytic schizogony and gametocytogenesis. This is the first study to report the use of a molecular marker for the sorting of sexually–committed schizont stage P. falciparum parasites, which opens the way to molecular characterization of this pre–differentiated subpopulation.
