PfPDEδ is the most expressed PDE in mature gametocytes (A) Expression of plasmodial PDEs in P. falciparum gametocytes determined by RT-qPCR. The expression of the different genes is normalized to the expression of the housekeeping gene Hk. Bars represent the mean ± SEM of three replicates (B) Western blot performed on membrane extracts from gametocytes of different stages for PfPDEδ expression (1:500). HSP70 protein was used as a loading control on cytosolic extracts from the same samples (1:2000). Quantification of PfPDEδ level relative to HSP70 was performed by densitometry (Quantity one software) (C) Immunofluorescence analysis performed on the different gametocyte stages. Parasites are co-labeled with anti-PfPDEδ antibody, anti-Pfg27 antibody which labels the cytoplasm of gametocytes and Hoechst. Scale bars: 2 μm.

N'Dri ME, Tavella TA, Royer L, Dupuy F, Bedault L, Verdier F, Lavazec C. Phosphodiesterase delta governs the mechanical properties of erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes. Microbes Infect. 2023 25(5):105102. PMID: 36708871