The recently discovered Apicomplexan AP2 (ApiAP2) family of proteins is the best-studied group of transcription factors in Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of human malaria. While different ApiAP2s have been recognized to regulate transcription in every stage of P. falciparum development, two of these proteins—PfAP2-G and PF14-0633—are of particular interest for their roles in gametocytogenesis and blood stage cytoadherence, respectively. The goals of this study were to observe the expression of AP2-G relative to gametocyte formation and to study the relationship between PF14_0633 expression and cytoadherence. In order to accomplish these goals, a green fluorescent protein tag was to be used to monitor the expression of AP2-G, while a glmS ribozyme tag was chosen to modulate levels of PF14_0633 expression. AP2-G was successfully tagged with GFP but transfection of multiple parasite lines proved ineffective, making phenotypic observation impossible. The process of tagging PF14_0633 is currently underway with early success, but time constraints have hindered the completion of this experiment.
