The claudin-like apicomplexan microneme protein is essential for Plasmodium berghei sporozoite infectivity in the mosquito and mammalian hosts

Here we characterize the function of a microneme protein expressed both in merozoites and sporozoites, the claudin-like protein CLAMP. We used a conditional genome editing strategy in a rodent malaria model to generate CLAMP-deficient sporozoites. In the absence of CLAMP, sporozoites failed to invade mosquito salivary glands and mammalian hepatocytes, and showed defects in gliding motility and microneme secretion. Our data establish that CLAMP plays an essential role across Plasmodium invasive stages, and might represent a potential target for transmission-blocking antimalarial strategies.