Fig. 7: Deletion of Pbeb1 identifies an essential role in oocyst development and sporogony.

A The number of exflagellation centres per field of Δeb1 (black bar) compared with WT-GFP (white bar) parasites at the end of male gametogony. Shown is mean ± SD n = 3 independent experiments. B Percentage ookinete conversion for Δeb1 (black bar) and WT-GFP (white bar) parasites. Ookinetes were identified by reactivity with 13.1 antibody and successful differentiation into elongated ‘banana-shaped’ ookinetes. Shown is mean ± SD; n = 3 independent experiments. C Total number of GFP-positive oocysts per infected mosquito in Δeb1 (black bar) and WT-GFP (white bar) parasites at 10- and 21 days post infection (dpi). Shown is mean ± SD; n = 3 independent experiments (with >15 mosquitoes for each). Multiple comparison t test (non-parametric) showed significant differences in oocyst number ***P < 0.001. (P values: 0.000328—Day 10; 0.000016—Day 21). D Midguts at ×10- and ×63 magnification showing fluorescent oocysts of Δeb1 and WT-GFP lines at 10 and 21 dpi. More than 20 images were analysed in more than three different experiments. Scale bar = 50 μm (×10) or 20 μm (×63). E RNA-seq analysis showing depletion of EB1 transcript in Δeb1 gametocytes at 0- and 30 min post activation. Data range is 0 to 900 reads. F Scatter plot showing up- and downregulated genes in Δeb1 compared to WT-GFP gametocytes, with adjusted P value cut-off of 0.05. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.