Paul Horrocks recently noted difficulties in functionally expressing GFP
in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. We have had similar lack
of success with attempts at expression in the related protozoan parasite
Toxoplasma gondii. It is my understanding that at least 6 other groups
have also failed in to express GFP in Plasmodium or in Toxoplasma.
We have cultured parasites in a high oxygen environment, but to no avail.
Lowering the culture temperature to 30 or 25 degrees also has no
detectable effect. I would not conclude from our limited experience that
this project cannot succeed, but would be interested to hear of efforts
by others. In particular, we have never obtained antibody to determine
if the GFP protein is even made. It would also be interesting to try the
'red-shift' mutation (and other mutants).
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David S. Roos / Associate Professor / Departments of Biology and Microbiology
Univ. of Pennsylvania / 415 S. University Ave. / Philadelphia PA / 19104-6018
droos at sas.upenn.edu / tel:215-898-2118 / fax:215-898-8780
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