Malaria Cell-Biology

Research Interests

Host-Parasite interactions that control the course of a malaria infection and the pathology associated with it. The laboratory focus on the study of mechanisms used by Plasmodium-induced host factors important for the maintenance of infection.

Publications

Carrolo, M., Giordano, S., Cabrita-Santos, L., Corso, S., Vigário, A.M., Silva, S., Leirião, P., Carapau, D., Armas-Portela, R., Comoglio, P., Rodriguez, A., and Mota, M.M. (2003). Hepaotcyte growth factor and its receptor are required for infection. Nature Medicine 9 :1363-1369

Mota, M.M., Rodriguez, A. (2002). Invasion of mammalian host cells by Plasmodium sporozoites. Bioessays 24(2) :149-56

Mota, M.M., Pradel, G., Vanderberg, J.P., Hafalla, J.C., Frevert, U., Nussenzweig, R.S., Nussenzweig, V., Rodriguez, A. (2001). Migration of Plasmodium sporozoites through cells before infection. Science 291 :(5501)141-4

Mota, M.M., Thathy, V., Nussenzweig, R.S., Nussenzweig, V. (2001). Gene targeting in the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium yoelii. Mol Biochem Parasitol. 113(2) :271-8

Natarajan, R., Thathy, V., Mota, M.M., Hafalla, J.C., Menard, R., Vernick, K.D. (2001). Fluorescent Plasmodium berghei sporozoites and pre-erythrocytic stages: a new tool to study mosquito and mammalian host interactions with malaria parasites. Cell Microbiol. 3(6) :371-9

Mota, M.M., Rodriguez, A. (2001). Migration through host cells by apicomplexan parasites. Microbes Infect. 3(13) :1123-8

Mota, M.M., Jarra, W., Hirst, E., Patnaik, P.K., Holder, A.A. (2000). Plasmodium chabaudi-infected erythrocytes adhere to CD36 and bind to microvascular endothelial cells in an organ-specific way. Infect Immun. 68(7) :4135-44

Mota, M.M., Rodriguez, A. (2000). Plasmodium yoelii: efficient in vitro invasion and complete development of sporozoites in mouse hepatic cell lines. Exp Parasitol. 96(4) :257-9