Maria M. Mota

Host cell traversal by Plasmodium parasites is essential for sterilizing hepatic cellular immunity.

This study shows that Plasmodium sporozoites must traverse host cells to induce sterilizing immunity, challenging the idea that intrahepatic development alone is sufficient for protection.

Flow cytometry-based evaluation of hepatic infection by non-fluorescent Plasmodium parasites

This paper introduces a flow cytometry-based method to quantify hepatic infection by non-fluorescent Plasmodium parasites using HSP70 and UIS4 as markers.

Circadian rhythms mediate malaria transmission potential

The paper shows that mosquito salivary gland and sporozoite gene expression cycles with the day-night rhythm, affecting malaria transmission.

A spatiotemporally resolved single cell atlas of the Plasmodium liver stage

This study creates a spatiotemporally resolved single-cell atlas of Plasmodium liver stage infection, revealing zone-specific parasite gene expression and immune responses in hepatocytes.

Metabolic competition between lipid metabolism and histone methylation regulates sexual differentiation in human malaria parasites.

The paper shows that metabolic competition for S-adenosylmethionine between histone methyltransferases and phosphoethanolamine methyltransferase regulates sexual differentiation in Plasmodium falciparum.