Niemand, Jandeli2024-02-192024-02-192024-04-012024-02-15*A2024http://hdl.handle.net/2263/94708Dissertation (MSc (Biochemistry))--University of Pretoria, 2024.Although malaria is a curable disease, the causative agent, the Plasmodium falciparum parasite, continuously develops antimalarial resistance, making current chemotherapeutics ineffective. The parasites are amino acid auxotrophs, and amino acids are mostly obtained from haemoglobin digestion, with additional amino acids, such as isoleucine and methionine, obtained from the extracellular environment. The uptake of these extracellular amino acids requires transport across multiple membranes surrounding the parasite. Two putative amino acid transporters from the neurotransmitter:sodium symporter family are constitutively expressed in P. falciparum asexual parasites and gametocytes, and we hypothesize that these are essential for asexual proliferation and sexual differentiation in P. falciparum parasites. Here, our objective was to develop genetically modified parasite lines to investigate the essentiality of these two putative amino acid transporters.en© 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.UCTDPlasmodiumNutrient acquisitionAmino acid transportersConditional knockdownGene disruptionGenetic manipulationSustainable Development Goals (SDGs)SDG-03: Good health and well-beingNatural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-03SDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructureNatural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-09SDG-04: Quality educationNatural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-04Dissertationu1800171910.25403/UPresearchdata.25211261