Thioester proteins (TEP) display distinct protection specificities against human and rodent Plasmodium.

A. Of the TEP genes assayed, only TEP4 displays activity against P. falciparum infection. B. Conversely, only the activity of TEP3 is required for protection against P. yoelii normal oocysts. C. Silencing of TEP3, which leads to elevated infection prevalence for normal oocysts, simultaneously diminishes the prevalence of melanized P. yoelii parasites. D. Similar to (B), activity of TEP3 is required for protection from a different rodent malaria species, P. berghei. Two TEP genes located on chromosome 3R, TEP12 and TEP15, part of a TEP clade evolutionarily distinct from TEP3 and TEP4 (S2 Fig), did not display protective activity against any of the Plasmodium species. Graph labels and statistical tests as in Fig 2 legend.