Kathrin Witmer

TL;DR: Contrary to the previously proposed role for this factor in gene activation, the results provide strong evidence for the first time for the involvement of an ApiAP2 factor in heterochromatin formation and genome integrity.

TL;DR: This study provides comprehensive new insight into the biology of the Plasmodium nucleus and will serve as an important platform for dissecting general and parasite-specific nuclear processes in malaria parasites and provide an important resource for studying evolutionary aspects of nuclear biology.

TL;DR: A system for controlled sexual conversion in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, based on conditional expression of the PfAP2-G transcription factor is described, enabling the characterization of committed and early sexual stages without further purification.

TL;DR: It is found that the three major var promoter types are functionally equal and play an essential role in singular gene choice, and a differential logic in the regulation of var and other subtelomeric virulence gene families is identified.

TL;DR: In this article, the authors used single-cell transcriptomics to illuminate gene usage across the transmission cycle of the most virulent agent of human malaria - Plasmodium falciparum, revealing developmental trajectories associated with the colonization of the mosquito midgut and salivary glands and elucidate the transcriptional signatures of each transmissible stage.