FIG 3.

Genetic crosses reveal that PfARID also regulates fertility of female gametes. (A) WT PfNF54 and Pfarid^– gametocytes were fed to A. stephensi mosquitoes, and the number of oocysts per mosquito midgut were enumerated on day 7 postfeed. Data were averaged from three biological replicates with a minimum of 50 mosquito guts and are presented as the mean ± standard deviation (SD). Pfarid^– did not infect the mosquito vector. ND, not detected. (B) Oocyst formation of WT PfNF54, Pfarid^–, Pfcdpk4^–, and Pfmacfet^– single parasite line feeds and genetic crosses of Pfarid^– × Pfcdpk4^–, Pfarid^– × Pfmacfet^–, and Pfcdpk4^– × Pfmacfet^–. Genetic crosses revealed that the Pfarid^– did not show productive cross-fertilization with the Pfmacfet^– parasites (which produce functional males only), and also not with Pfcdpk4^– parasites (which produce functional females only). This demonstrates that Pfarid^– parasites suffer a functional defect in both genders. Error bar indicates mean ± SD; n = 2. ND, not detected.