{"id":{"repo_id":"cambridge","oai_identifier":"oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/352703"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/cambridge/oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/352703","repository":{"repo_id":"cambridge","name":"Cambridge University","base_url":"https://api.repository.cam.ac.uk/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Enabling the in vitro study of long noncoding RNAs to understand their role in Plasmodium falciparum","abstract":"Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified in *Plasmodium falciparum*, the parasitic cause for life-threatening malaria, yet their role remains largely undiscovered. Through interactions with nucleic acids and proteins, lncRNAs can modulate gene expression at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels. Determining the role of lncRNAs in the regulation of the *P. falciparum* transcriptome and proteome is imperative to further our understanding of gene regulation in the parasite. The characterisation of *P. falciparum* lncRNAs has been hindered by an incomplete annotation and the absence of disruption methods that together would permit high-throughput systematic knockdown of lncRNAs. During my PhD, I addressed these challenges to enable the study of *P. falciparum* lncRNAs *in vitro*. I generated a high-quality lncRNA annotation using manual curation of sequencing data generated at the Sanger Institute, along with supportive datasets from the literature. I evaluated CRISPR-based approaches for *in vitro* disruption of lncRNAs including gene knockout, knockdown, and interference. CRISPR-associated enzymes were explored including commonly used DNA-cutting enzymes (Cas9), inactivated enzymes to block transcription (dCpf1) and enzymes that target RNA directly (Cas13), the latter of which had not been applied to *Plasmodium*. Furthermore, I implemented these tools to demonstrate the feasibility of lncRNA studies in *P. falciparum*. I interrogated a set of lncRNAs that were selected based on predicted biological significance and targetability using dCpf1. LncRNA-depleted parasites were phenotypically characterised by assessing changes in fitness, drug resistance, gametocytogenesis and expression. I identified potential roles for specific lncRNAs in drug resistance and gametocytogenesis. By developing bioinformatics and molecular tools, this work enables future studies elucidating the specific roles of lncRNAs in *P. falciparum*. Understanding the transcriptome and gene regulation will inform the development of novel interventions for the control and eradication of malaria, which remains a serious global health concern.","abstract_html":"Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified in *Plasmodium falciparum*, the parasitic cause for life-threatening malaria, yet their role remains largely undiscovered. Through interactions with nucleic acids and proteins, lncRNAs can modulate gene expression at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels. Determining the role of lncRNAs in the regulation of the *P. falciparum* transcriptome and proteome is imperative to further our understanding of gene regulation in the parasite. The characterisation of *P. falciparum* lncRNAs has been hindered by an incomplete annotation and the absence of disruption methods that together would permit high-throughput systematic knockdown of lncRNAs. During my PhD, I addressed these challenges to enable the study of *P. falciparum* lncRNAs *in vitro*. I generated a high-quality lncRNA annotation using manual curation of sequencing data generated at the Sanger Institute, along with supportive datasets from the literature. I evaluated CRISPR-based approaches for *in vitro* disruption of lncRNAs including gene knockout, knockdown, and interference. CRISPR-associated enzymes were explored including commonly used DNA-cutting enzymes (Cas9), inactivated enzymes to block transcription (dCpf1) and enzymes that target RNA directly (Cas13), the latter of which had not been applied to *Plasmodium*. Furthermore, I implemented these tools to demonstrate the feasibility of lncRNA studies in *P. falciparum*. I interrogated a set of lncRNAs that were selected based on predicted biological significance and targetability using dCpf1. LncRNA-depleted parasites were phenotypically characterised by assessing changes in fitness, drug resistance, gametocytogenesis and expression. I identified potential roles for specific lncRNAs in drug resistance and gametocytogenesis. By developing bioinformatics and molecular tools, this work enables future studies elucidating the specific roles of lncRNAs in *P. falciparum*. Understanding the transcriptome and gene regulation will inform the development of novel interventions for the control and eradication of malaria, which remains a serious global health concern.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Hoshizaki, Johanna"],"institution":"University of Cambridge","degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)","degree_level":"Doctoral","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Lee, Marcus"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2023,"date_issued":"2023-03-31","date_published":"2023-03-31","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:24:16Z","subjects":["CRISPR","gene annotation","lncRNAs","malaria","Plasmodium"],"languages":["eng"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":["https://apollo8-f-pro.lib.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/2f78ad16-5908-4f99-8cec-5250666ad900/download","https://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/"],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.98898","outbound_label":"DOI","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.doi"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Lee, Marcus"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Hoshizaki, Johanna"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2023-03-31"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.institution","label":"Dc Publisher Institution","values":["University of Cambridge"]},{"key":"dc:relation.isreferencedby.uri","label":"Dc Relation Isreferencedby URI","values":["https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/352703"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationlevel","label":"Dc Type Qualificationlevel","values":["Doctoral"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationname","label":"Dc Type Qualificationname","values":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["CRISPR","gene annotation","lncRNAs","malaria","Plasmodium"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["eng"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["https://apollo8-f-pro.lib.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/2f78ad16-5908-4f99-8cec-5250666ad900/download","https://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.doi","label":"DOI","values":["https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.98898"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://apollo8-f-pro.lib.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/7f85076d-38e7-48d6-ad94-7be1b645bcc5/download"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified in *Plasmodium falciparum*, the parasitic cause for life-threatening malaria, yet their role remains largely undiscovered. 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