P. knowlesi model to study P. vivax

The lack of a continuous in vitro culture system for P. vivax has made it impossible to genetically engineer P. vivax for mechanistic research studies. One alternative that is being used is the infection of non-human primates, however this is restricted to few laboratories across the world. An additional alternative is the use of P. knowlesi, a Plasmodium species closely related to P. vivax that can be cultured in vitro. P. knowlesi is the zoonotic monkey parasite, which was adapted to grow in human erythrocytes. The ease of genetic manipulation of P. knowlesi using CRISPR-Cas9 methodologies and its successful use as surrogate for homologous genes of P. vivax make it an ideal model to study the function of P. vivax genes. We use genetic-engineering strategies in a P. knowlesi transgenic model to replace P. knowlesi genes with P. vivax homologues using CRISPR-Cas9 technology.