Graduation Year
2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
M.S.P.H.
Degree Name
MS in Public Health (M.S.P.H.)
Degree Granting Department
Public Health
Major Professor
John H. Adams, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Francis B. Ntumngia, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Dipak K. Raj, Ph.D.
Keywords
malaria vaccine, hepatocyte invasion, cryobiology, molecular parasitology
Abstract
Malaria is a major global health burden, contributing to morbidity and mortality across various continents. Due to challenges in malaria research and its advancements, developing novel interventions and further understanding host-parasite interactions is required for future studies. Plasmodium vivax is a human malaria species that is difficult to maintain in laboratory settings, posing obstacles in research. Cryopreservation offers a reliable method to provide a consistent supply of sporozoites for reproducible studies. Plasmodium yoelii is a rodent malaria model commonly used in studies due to its genetic similarity to human malaria species. Utilizing cryopreserved P. yoelii sporozoites potentially extends their usability that can be applied to P. vivax studies. In vitro assays were conducted to assess the infectivity capabilities of cryopreserved sporozoites. Sporozoites were collected via salivary gland dissections of Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes and prepared for gliding motility, cell traversal, and liver cell invasion assays. These assays are designed to evaluate sporozoite viability, infectivity capacity, and suitability for cryopreservation for downstream application. The findings from this study are expected to contribute to advanced malaria vaccine research and provide key insight into the utility of cryopreserved sporozoites for future studies.
Scholar Commons Citation
Mills, Victoria I., "Functional Characterization of Cryopreserved Plasmodium yoelii Sporozoites in vitro" (2025). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/10980
