Nature Communications (Nov 2020)

Plasmodium translocon component EXP2 facilitates hepatocyte invasion

  • João Mello-Vieira,
  • Francisco J. Enguita,
  • Tania F. de Koning-Ward,
  • Vanessa Zuzarte-Luís,
  • Maria M. Mota

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-19492-4
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 1 – 13

Abstract

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While the role of Plasmodium EXP2 protein as translocon component of blood stage parasites is established, its functional role in liver stage parasites remains unclear. Here, Mello-Vieira et al. reveal that EXP2 pore-forming activity induces hepatocyte membrane repair and hence is critical for hepatocyte invasion.