Loss of the RhopH complex does not ablate parasite protein export. Cycle 2 (72 h post rapamycin treatment) DMSO-treated and rapamycintreated rhopH3-loxP clone 5F5 trophozoite-stage parasites were probed with

antibodies against the parasitophorous vacuole membrane marker EXP2 to delineate the parasite in the infected erythrocyte, as well as antibodies

specific for either the Maurer’s cleft marker MAHRP1 (top panels) or the export marker KAHRP (bottom panels). Scale bar, 5 μm. B) Transmission electron micrograph showing a comparison between cycle 2 parasites of

DMSO-treated or rapamycin-treated rhopH3-loxP clone 5F5 parasites ~ 92 h following rapamycin treatment. The developmental block in the RhopH3Δ4-6 parasite is clearly evident, as is the presence of knobs (arrowed) on the

surface of the erythrocyte in both cases. Components of the mutant parasite labelled are the digestive vacuole (DV), haemozoin (H), nucleus (N), parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM), cytostomes (C) and parasite plasma membrane (PPM). The mutant parasites displayed no obvious ultrastructural differences from wild-type trophozoites at a similar developmental stage (not shown). Scale bar, 1 μm.

Sherling ES, Knuepfer E, Brzostowski JA, Miller LH, Blackman MJ, van Ooij C. The Plasmodium falciparum rhoptry protein RhopH3 plays essential roles in host cell invasion and nutrient uptake. Elife. 2017 6. pii: e23239. PMID: 28252384