Revisiting the determinants of malaria transmission.

Transmission of malaria parasites from human to mosquito is complex yet extremely efficient, as demonstrated by their persistence despite major eradication efforts. Recent studies applying genomic and genetic screens and single-cell RNAseq have started to unravel some of the key players driving gametocyte production, sex ratio, or evasion of mosquito immunity. These factors include host and parasite metabolites, parasite non-coding RNAs, and parasite genetic variation as a result of natural selection to adapt to new host species. Malaria parasites have coevolved with humans over thousands of years, mirroring their migration out of Africa. They persist to this day, despite continuous elimination efforts worldwide. These parasites can adapt to changing environments during infection of human and mosquito, and when expanding the geographical range by switching vector species. Recent studies in the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum , identified determinants governing the plasticity of sexual conversion rates, sex ratio, and vector competence. Here we summarize the latest literature revealing environmental, epigenetic, and genetic determinants of malaria transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]