Mutant/mutation
In the mutant the PBANKA_1003900  gene has been deleted using a PlasoGem DNA-construct.
This gene is a 'syntenic ortholog' of sexual stage-specific protein precursor (Pfs16; PF3D7_0406200) of P. falciparum. The similarity of P. falciparum Pfs16 and the syntenic P. berghei gene (Pbs16?) is below threshold.

Gametocytemia was similar in the mutant clones compared to WT and the morphology of male and female gametocytes was normal. There was no difference in number of males exflagellating. Nor could we detect any difference in the events of exflagellation as observed under the microscope. Ookinete conversion was also normal.
When mosquitoes were fed on mice infected with the mutant parasites lacking PBANKA_1003900 there was a reduction in the number of oocysts. In two experiments where oocyst numbers were low there was a significant difference. In the third experiment where the numbers of oocysts were very high the mutant still produced fewer oocysts but the difference was not statistically significant. These results indicate a role of the protein in ookinete-to-oocyst transformation or in early oocyst development. The oocysts produced viable and infectious sporozoites, as transmission to mice was similar to WT; infections were detected on day five after feeding in three independent experiments (one experiment each for clone 1 from the first transfection and clones 3 and 4 from the second transfection).
See RMgm- 971 for mutants expressing (C-terminally) tagged forms of PBANKA_1003900