A genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screen identifies CENPJ as a host regulator of altered microtubule organization during Plasmodium liver infection.

Prior to initiating symptomatic malaria, a single Plasmodium sporozoite infects a hepatocyte and develops into thousands of merozoites, in part by scavenging host resources. We show that host microtubules dynamically reorganize around the developing liver stage (LS) parasite. Using a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screen, we identified host regulators of cytoskeleton organization, vesicle trafficking, ER/Golgi stress and lipid biogenesis that regulate Plasmodium LS development. These novel regulators of infection, including Centromere Protein J (CENPJ), led us to interrogate how microtubule organizing centers (MTOCs) are regulated during infection. Foci of {gamma}-tubulin localized to the parasite periphery; depletion of CENPJ exacerbated this re-localization and increased infection. Further, we show that the Golgi acts as a non-centrosomal MTOC by organizing {gamma}-tubulin and stimulating microtubule nucleation at the parasite periphery. Collectively, we show that the Plasmodium LS recruits the host Golgi to form MT mediated conduits along which host organelles are recruited to the PVM, to support liver stage development. Our findings suggest many host-targeted pharmacological inhibitors may inhibit LS infection.