Fig. 1

Plasmepsin VII and Plasmepsin X mRNA was detected in Plasmodium falciparum sexual stage parasites. a Total RNA isolated from in vitro-cultivated asexual stages (A), gametocytes (G), zygotes (Z), ookinetes (O), and uninfected human erythrocytes (uB). Samples were reverse transcribed and amplified using primers specific for PfPM VII (+RT). Samples that were not reverse transcribed (−RT) and amplified with PfPM VII-specific primers did not generate PCR product. b Total RNA isolated ex vivo from ookinete-containing mosquito midguts (O) or uninfected human blood (uB), in vitro-cultivated gametocytes (G) and mixed zygotes and ookinetes (Z/O), as well as DNA from P. falciparum (NF) was isolated. Samples were reverse transcribed and amplified using primers specific for PfPM X and pfs25 (+RT). Samples that were not reverse transcribed (−RT) and amplified with PfPM X-specific primers did not generate PCR product