An understanding of not only protein-protein but protein-glycan interactions are needed before we can completely dissect the molecular mechanisms involved in Plasmodium ookinete invasion of the mosquito midgut. Objectives: Functional analyses of
mosquito midgut glycoconjugates during Plasmodium invasion through RNAi knock-down of mosquito midgut and salivary gland glycosyl- and sulfo-transferases, and b) proteomic identification by mass spectrometry of mosquito core polypeptides to which the glycans are attached. Summary: An effective malaria vaccine remains elusive. The characterization of these mosquito ligands and parasite receptors offer us additional target antigens toward the development of malaria transmission-blocking vaccines and provide us critical insight into parasite and midgut cell biology and vector host-parasite interactions.