{"gene":"PF3D7_1404300","run_date":"2026-09-08T14:19:07","timeline":{"discoveries":[{"year":2003,"finding":"SOAP is targeted to the micronemes in ookinetes and forms high molecular mass complexes via disulphide bonds; targeted disruption of the SOAP gene in P. berghei results in ookinetes markedly impaired in midgut invasion and oocyst formation.","method":"Subcellular fractionation/immunofluorescence for localization; reducing/non-reducing SDS-PAGE for disulphide-bond-dependent complex formation; gene knockout (targeted disruption) with mosquito infection readout","journal":"Molecular microbiology","confidence":"High","confidence_rationale":"Tier 2 / Strong — direct localization experiment, biochemical characterization of complexes, and clean loss-of-function with defined phenotypic readout, all in one study with multiple orthogonal methods","pmids":["12828632"],"is_preprint":false,"attribution":[{"species":"Plasmodium berghei","strain":""}]},{"year":2003,"finding":"SOAP interacts strongly with mosquito laminin, as demonstrated by yeast two-hybrid assay.","method":"Yeast two-hybrid assay","journal":"Molecular microbiology","confidence":"Medium","confidence_rationale":"Tier 3 / Moderate — yeast two-hybrid is an indirect binding assay; single lab but consistent with functional phenotype of SOAP KO impairing midgut invasion","pmids":["12828632"],"is_preprint":false,"attribution":[{"species":"Plasmodium berghei","strain":""}]},{"year":2009,"finding":"SOAP was confirmed as a constituent of ookinete micronemes by proteomics of a purified microneme fraction enriched >14-fold over intact ookinetes, identified by gel LC-MS/MS.","method":"Subcellular fractionation followed by gel LC-MS/MS proteomics; electron microscopy confirmation of fraction purity","journal":"Proteomics","confidence":"Medium","confidence_rationale":"Tier 2 / Moderate — fractionation with EM verification plus MS identification; single lab but replicates localization finding from prior study","pmids":["19206106"],"is_preprint":false,"attribution":[{"species":"Plasmodium berghei","strain":""}]},{"year":2008,"finding":"SOAP null mutant P. berghei ookinetes transform into oocysts in a cell-free in vitro system at rates comparable to wild-type, indicating SOAP is not required for ookinete-to-oocyst transformation in vitro (negative result for transformation function).","method":"Gene knockout (SOAP null mutant) compared to wild-type in cell-free in vitro transformation assay; viability and growth assays","journal":"Malaria journal","confidence":"Medium","confidence_rationale":"Tier 2 / Moderate — clean genetic KO with defined in vitro phenotypic readout; single lab; negative result is mechanistically informative","pmids":["18489758"],"is_preprint":false,"attribution":[{"species":"Plasmodium berghei","strain":"ANKA"}]},{"year":2021,"finding":"SOAP is a component of a hetero-multimeric, high-molecular-weight (>1,300 kDa) chitinase-containing complex secreted by ookinetes; mass spectrometry of a chitin bead pull-down from ookinete-conditioned culture media identified SOAP alongside WARP and ookinete surface enolase as chitinase-associated proteins.","method":"Size exclusion chromatography; chitin bead pull-down of ookinete-secreted proteins; mass spectrometry","journal":"Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology","confidence":"Medium","confidence_rationale":"Tier 2 / Moderate — reciprocal biochemical isolation with MS identification; single lab; two Plasmodium species examined","pmids":["33489941"],"is_preprint":false,"attribution":[{"species":"Plasmodium falciparum","strain":""},{"species":"Plasmodium gallinaceum","strain":""}]},{"year":2015,"finding":"Expression of a Neospora caninum Kazal-type serine protease inhibitor (NcPI-S) in P. berghei zygotes blocked development into mature ookinetes and prevented expression of the micronemal protein SOAP, indicating that serine protease activity within the secretory pathway is required for normal microneme formation and SOAP expression.","method":"Ectopic expression of protease inhibitor in P. berghei; immunofluorescence assay for SOAP; ultrastructural analysis by electron microscopy","journal":"PloS one","confidence":"Low","confidence_rationale":"Tier 3 / Weak — single indirect approach (ectopic inhibitor expression); SOAP loss is a downstream readout of disrupted microneme biogenesis, not a direct manipulation of SOAP itself; single lab","pmids":["25803874"],"is_preprint":false,"attribution":[{"species":"Plasmodium berghei","strain":""}]},{"year":2021,"finding":"AI-based structural modeling (AlphaFold) of the SOAP protein predicts how it may interact with short chitinase and WARP at the atomic level to form the ookinete-secreted peritrophic matrix invasion complex; conserved residues across Plasmodium species relevant to complex formation were identified from genomic data.","method":"Computational structural modeling (AlphaFold/DeepMind); comparative genomics","journal":"Infection and immunity","confidence":"Low","confidence_rationale":"Tier 4 / Weak — computational prediction only; no experimental validation of SOAP-specific interactions reported in this paper","pmids":["34606368"],"is_preprint":false,"attribution":[{"species":"Plasmodium falciparum","strain":""}]}],"current_model":"SOAP (PF3D7_1404300) is a secreted, cysteine-rich micronemal protein of Plasmodium ookinetes that forms disulphide-bond-dependent high-molecular-mass complexes (including a >1,300 kDa hetero-multimeric complex with chitinase and WARP), interacts with mosquito midgut laminin, and is required for efficient midgut wall invasion and oocyst formation in vivo, but is dispensable for ookinete-to-oocyst transformation in cell-free in vitro conditions."},"narrative":{"mechanistic_narrative":"SOAP (PF3D7_1404300) is a secreted, disulphide-bond-forming micronemal protein of Plasmodium ookinetes that is required for efficient mosquito midgut invasion and oocyst formation [PMID:12828632]. In P. berghei, SOAP localizes to ookinete micronemes and assembles into high-molecular-mass complexes through disulphide bonds, and its targeted disruption markedly impairs midgut invasion and oocyst formation in vivo [PMID:12828632], a role consistent with its strong interaction with mosquito midgut laminin in yeast two-hybrid assays [PMID:12828632]. Its micronemal residence was independently confirmed by proteomics of purified ookinete microneme fractions [PMID:19206106]. Biochemically, SOAP is a constituent of a hetero-multimeric, >1,300 kDa chitinase-containing complex secreted by ookinetes, isolated with WARP and ookinete surface enolase via chitin-bead pull-down in P. falciparum and P. gallinaceum [PMID:33489941]. Its invasion function is specific to the mosquito midgut barrier rather than to ookinete-to-oocyst transformation per se: SOAP-null ookinetes transform into oocysts at wild-type rates in a cell-free in vitro system [PMID:18489758]. Beyond its complex membership, adhesion role, and micronemal targeting, no further mechanistic detail on SOAP's molecular activity has been experimentally established in the available corpus.","teleology":[{"year":2003,"claim":"Established SOAP's cellular location, biochemical behavior, and its functional necessity for the mosquito-stage transmission bottleneck, defining it as a micronemal adhesin required for midgut invasion.","evidence":"Immunofluorescence/fractionation for localization, reducing/non-reducing SDS-PAGE for disulphide-dependent complexes, and targeted gene knockout with mosquito infection readout in P. berghei","pmids":["12828632"],"confidence":"High","gaps":["Molecular composition of the disulphide-bonded complexes not resolved in this study","Whether SOAP acts on the ookinete surface or within secreted material not distinguished"],"attribution":[{"species":"Plasmodium berghei","strain":""}]},{"year":2003,"claim":"Identified a candidate molecular basis for SOAP's midgut-invasion role by testing whether it engages a mosquito extracellular matrix component.","evidence":"Yeast two-hybrid assay showing SOAP binding to mosquito laminin (P. berghei)","pmids":["12828632"],"confidence":"Medium","gaps":["Yeast two-hybrid is indirect; no direct biochemical binding or affinity measurement","Interaction not confirmed in the mosquito midgut context"],"attribution":[{"species":"Plasmodium berghei","strain":""}]},{"year":2008,"claim":"Distinguished SOAP's invasion role from a general developmental requirement by showing it is dispensable for ookinete-to-oocyst transformation itself.","evidence":"Cell-free in vitro transformation assay comparing SOAP-null and wild-type P. berghei (ANKA) ookinetes","pmids":["18489758"],"confidence":"Medium","gaps":["Does not identify what specifically fails during in vivo midgut traversal","Single-lab in vitro readout may not capture all developmental defects"],"attribution":[{"species":"Plasmodium berghei","strain":"ANKA"}]},{"year":2009,"claim":"Independently confirmed SOAP as a genuine micronemal constituent using an orthogonal proteomic approach.","evidence":"Gel LC-MS/MS of an EM-verified, >14-fold-enriched ookinete microneme fraction (P. berghei)","pmids":["19206106"],"confidence":"Medium","gaps":["Proteomic co-fractionation does not establish direct partners","Does not address secretion dynamics or trafficking"],"attribution":[{"species":"Plasmodium berghei","strain":""}]},{"year":2015,"claim":"Placed SOAP expression downstream of secretory-pathway serine protease activity, linking microneme biogenesis to SOAP accumulation.","evidence":"Ectopic expression of Neospora caninum Kazal-type protease inhibitor NcPI-S in P. berghei zygotes with IFA for SOAP and EM ultrastructure","pmids":["25803874"],"confidence":"Low","gaps":["Indirect, single-approach: SOAP loss is a downstream readout of disrupted microneme biogenesis, not a direct SOAP manipulation","Does not identify the responsible protease or a direct effect on SOAP"],"attribution":[{"species":"Plasmodium berghei","strain":""}]},{"year":2021,"claim":"Defined SOAP as a member of a large secreted chitinase-containing complex, connecting it biochemically to WARP and enolase in the peritrophic-matrix-crossing machinery.","evidence":"Size-exclusion chromatography and chitin-bead pull-down of ookinete-conditioned media with MS identification in P. falciparum and P. gallinaceum","pmids":["33489941"],"confidence":"Medium","gaps":["Co-isolation does not prove direct SOAP contacts within the complex","Stoichiometry and functional contribution of SOAP to the complex unresolved"],"attribution":[{"species":"Plasmodium falciparum","strain":""},{"species":"Plasmodium gallinaceum","strain":""}]},{"year":2021,"claim":"Generated an atomic-level hypothesis for how SOAP contacts chitinase and WARP within the invasion complex.","evidence":"AlphaFold structural modeling and comparative genomics identifying conserved residues (P. falciparum)","pmids":["34606368"],"confidence":"Low","gaps":["Computational prediction only, with no experimental validation of SOAP-specific interactions","Predicted interface residues not tested by mutagenesis"],"attribution":[{"species":"Plasmodium falciparum","strain":""}]},{"year":null,"claim":"It remains unknown how SOAP's laminin binding, its role in the secreted chitinase complex, and its requirement for midgut invasion mechanistically integrate, and whether these functions are conserved beyond the model species tested.","evidence":"","pmids":[],"confidence":"Low","gaps":["No direct structural or biochemical validation of SOAP interfaces","Function characterized largely in P. berghei; SOAP-specific loss-of-function not reported in P. falciparum","Mechanistic contribution of SOAP within the >1,300 kDa complex not dissected"],"attribution":[]}],"mechanism_profile":{"molecular_activity":[],"localization":[],"pathway":[],"complexes":[">1,300 kDa hetero-multimeric chitinase-containing complex (with WARP and ookinete surface enolase) [#4]","Disulphide-bond-dependent high-molecular-mass complexes [#0]"],"partners":["MOSQUITO LAMININ (YEAST TWO-HYBRID) [#1]","CHITINASE [#4, #6]","WARP [#4, #6]","OOKINETE SURFACE ENOLASE [#4]"],"other_free_text":["SOAP-null ookinetes are impaired in midgut invasion and oocyst formation in vivo but transform to oocysts normally in cell-free in vitro conditions [#0, #3].","SOAP expression depends on secretory-pathway serine protease activity required for microneme biogenesis [#5].","Functional characterization is predominantly in P. berghei; complex membership shown in P. falciparum and P. gallinaceum [#0, #4]."]}},"prefetch_data":{},"corpus_meta":[{"pmid":"12828632","id":"PMC_12828632","title":"SOAP, a novel malaria ookinete protein involved in mosquito midgut invasion and oocyst development.","date":"2003","source":"Molecular microbiology","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12828632","citation_count":114,"is_preprint":false,"source_species":["Pf"],"role":"primary","match_terms":["SOAP","secreted ookinete adhesive protein"],"competing_organism_flag":false,"competing_organism_match":"","competing_organism_only":false},{"pmid":"19206106","id":"PMC_19206106","title":"Characterisation of Plasmodium invasive organelles; an ookinete microneme proteome.","date":"2009","source":"Proteomics","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19206106","citation_count":64,"is_preprint":false,"source_species":["Pf"],"role":"primary","match_terms":["SOAP"],"competing_organism_flag":false,"competing_organism_match":"","competing_organism_only":false},{"pmid":"11562165","id":"PMC_11562165","title":"Cryofracture electron microscopy of the ookinete pellicle of Plasmodium gallinaceum reveals the existence of novel pores in the alveolar membranes.","date":"2001","source":"Journal of structural biology","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11562165","citation_count":45,"is_preprint":false,"source_species":["Pf"],"role":"primary","match_terms":["SOAP"],"competing_organism_flag":false,"competing_organism_match":"","competing_organism_only":false},{"pmid":"18489758","id":"PMC_18489758","title":"The microneme proteins CTRP and SOAP are not essential for Plasmodium berghei ookinete to oocyst transformation in vitro in a cell free system.","date":"2008","source":"Malaria journal","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18489758","citation_count":20,"is_preprint":false,"source_species":["Pf"],"role":"primary","match_terms":["SOAP","secreted ookinete adhesive protein"],"competing_organism_flag":false,"competing_organism_match":"","competing_organism_only":false},{"pmid":"33307135","id":"PMC_33307135","title":"Generation of Plasmodium yoelii malaria parasite for conditional degradation of proteins.","date":"2020","source":"Molecular and biochemical parasitology","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33307135","citation_count":11,"is_preprint":false,"source_species":["Pf"],"role":"primary","match_terms":["SOAP"],"competing_organism_flag":false,"competing_organism_match":"","competing_organism_only":false},{"pmid":"34606368","id":"PMC_34606368","title":"Evolutionary Insights into the Microneme-Secreted, Chitinase-Containing High-Molecular-Weight Protein Complexes Involved in Plasmodium Invasion of the Mosquito Midgut.","date":"2021","source":"Infection and immunity","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34606368","citation_count":8,"is_preprint":false,"source_species":["Pf"],"role":"primary","match_terms":["SOAP","secreted ookinete adhesive protein"],"competing_organism_flag":false,"competing_organism_match":"","competing_organism_only":false},{"pmid":"33489941","id":"PMC_33489941","title":"A Hetero-Multimeric Chitinase-Containing Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium gallinaceum Ookinete-Secreted Protein Complex Involved in Mosquito Midgut Invasion.","date":"2021","source":"Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33489941","citation_count":5,"is_preprint":false,"source_species":["Pf"],"role":"primary","match_terms":["SOAP","secreted ookinete adhesive protein"],"competing_organism_flag":false,"competing_organism_match":"","competing_organism_only":false},{"pmid":"25803874","id":"PMC_25803874","title":"Ectopic expression of a Neospora caninum Kazal type inhibitor triggers developmental defects in Toxoplasma and Plasmodium.","date":"2015","source":"PloS one","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25803874","citation_count":2,"is_preprint":false,"source_species":["Pf"],"role":"primary","match_terms":["SOAP"],"competing_organism_flag":true,"competing_organism_match":"Neospora","competing_organism_only":true}],"cost":{"stage1":{"model":"claude-sonnet-4-6","input_tokens":6874,"output_tokens":1840,"usd":0.024111,"stage1_stop_reason":"end_turn"},"stage2":{"model":"claude-opus-4-8","input_tokens":6975,"output_tokens":3098,"usd":0.056162,"stage2_stop_reason":"end_turn"},"total_usd":0.080273,"stage1_batch_id":"msgbatch_011BPjN2BL33F8cJXD1r7V7T","stage2_batch_id":"msgbatch_01Qwg6vP7qxkpL6Gsc7tajsb","note":"batch pricing = 50% of standard"},"stage1_raw":"```json\n{\n  \"discoveries\": [\n    {\n      \"year\": 2003,\n      \"finding\": \"SOAP is targeted to the micronemes in ookinetes and forms high molecular mass complexes via disulphide bonds; targeted disruption of the SOAP gene in P. berghei results in ookinetes markedly impaired in midgut invasion and oocyst formation.\",\n      \"method\": \"Subcellular fractionation/immunofluorescence for localization; reducing/non-reducing SDS-PAGE for disulphide-bond-dependent complex formation; gene knockout (targeted disruption) with mosquito infection readout\",\n      \"journal\": \"Molecular microbiology\",\n      \"confidence\": \"High\",\n      \"confidence_rationale\": \"Tier 2 / Strong — direct localization experiment, biochemical characterization of complexes, and clean loss-of-function with defined phenotypic readout, all in one study with multiple orthogonal methods\",\n      \"pmids\": [\"12828632\"],\n      \"is_preprint\": false,\n      \"attribution\": [\n        {\"species\": \"Plasmodium berghei\", \"strain\": \"\"}\n      ]\n    },\n    {\n      \"year\": 2003,\n      \"finding\": \"SOAP interacts strongly with mosquito laminin, as demonstrated by yeast two-hybrid assay.\",\n      \"method\": \"Yeast two-hybrid assay\",\n      \"journal\": \"Molecular microbiology\",\n      \"confidence\": \"Medium\",\n      \"confidence_rationale\": \"Tier 3 / Moderate — yeast two-hybrid is an indirect binding assay; single lab but consistent with functional phenotype of SOAP KO impairing midgut invasion\",\n      \"pmids\": [\"12828632\"],\n      \"is_preprint\": false,\n      \"attribution\": [\n        {\"species\": \"Plasmodium berghei\", \"strain\": \"\"}\n      ]\n    },\n    {\n      \"year\": 2009,\n      \"finding\": \"SOAP was confirmed as a constituent of ookinete micronemes by proteomics of a purified microneme fraction enriched >14-fold over intact ookinetes, identified by gel LC-MS/MS.\",\n      \"method\": \"Subcellular fractionation followed by gel LC-MS/MS proteomics; electron microscopy confirmation of fraction purity\",\n      \"journal\": \"Proteomics\",\n      \"confidence\": \"Medium\",\n      \"confidence_rationale\": \"Tier 2 / Moderate — fractionation with EM verification plus MS identification; single lab but replicates localization finding from prior study\",\n      \"pmids\": [\"19206106\"],\n      \"is_preprint\": false,\n      \"attribution\": [\n        {\"species\": \"Plasmodium berghei\", \"strain\": \"\"}\n      ]\n    },\n    {\n      \"year\": 2008,\n      \"finding\": \"SOAP null mutant P. berghei ookinetes transform into oocysts in a cell-free in vitro system at rates comparable to wild-type, indicating SOAP is not required for ookinete-to-oocyst transformation in vitro (negative result for transformation function).\",\n      \"method\": \"Gene knockout (SOAP null mutant) compared to wild-type in cell-free in vitro transformation assay; viability and growth assays\",\n      \"journal\": \"Malaria journal\",\n      \"confidence\": \"Medium\",\n      \"confidence_rationale\": \"Tier 2 / Moderate — clean genetic KO with defined in vitro phenotypic readout; single lab; negative result is mechanistically informative\",\n      \"pmids\": [\"18489758\"],\n      \"is_preprint\": false,\n      \"attribution\": [\n        {\"species\": \"Plasmodium berghei\", \"strain\": \"ANKA\"}\n      ]\n    },\n    {\n      \"year\": 2021,\n      \"finding\": \"SOAP is a component of a hetero-multimeric, high-molecular-weight (>1,300 kDa) chitinase-containing complex secreted by ookinetes; mass spectrometry of a chitin bead pull-down from ookinete-conditioned culture media identified SOAP alongside WARP and ookinete surface enolase as chitinase-associated proteins.\",\n      \"method\": \"Size exclusion chromatography; chitin bead pull-down of ookinete-secreted proteins; mass spectrometry\",\n      \"journal\": \"Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology\",\n      \"confidence\": \"Medium\",\n      \"confidence_rationale\": \"Tier 2 / Moderate — reciprocal biochemical isolation with MS identification; single lab; two Plasmodium species examined\",\n      \"pmids\": [\"33489941\"],\n      \"is_preprint\": false,\n      \"attribution\": [\n        {\"species\": \"Plasmodium falciparum\", \"strain\": \"\"},\n        {\"species\": \"Plasmodium gallinaceum\", \"strain\": \"\"}\n      ]\n    },\n    {\n      \"year\": 2015,\n      \"finding\": \"Expression of a Neospora caninum Kazal-type serine protease inhibitor (NcPI-S) in P. berghei zygotes blocked development into mature ookinetes and prevented expression of the micronemal protein SOAP, indicating that serine protease activity within the secretory pathway is required for normal microneme formation and SOAP expression.\",\n      \"method\": \"Ectopic expression of protease inhibitor in P. berghei; immunofluorescence assay for SOAP; ultrastructural analysis by electron microscopy\",\n      \"journal\": \"PloS one\",\n      \"confidence\": \"Low\",\n      \"confidence_rationale\": \"Tier 3 / Weak — single indirect approach (ectopic inhibitor expression); SOAP loss is a downstream readout of disrupted microneme biogenesis, not a direct manipulation of SOAP itself; single lab\",\n      \"pmids\": [\"25803874\"],\n      \"is_preprint\": false,\n      \"attribution\": [\n        {\"species\": \"Plasmodium berghei\", \"strain\": \"\"}\n      ]\n    },\n    {\n      \"year\": 2021,\n      \"finding\": \"AI-based structural modeling (AlphaFold) of the SOAP protein predicts how it may interact with short chitinase and WARP at the atomic level to form the ookinete-secreted peritrophic matrix invasion complex; conserved residues across Plasmodium species relevant to complex formation were identified from genomic data.\",\n      \"method\": \"Computational structural modeling (AlphaFold/DeepMind); comparative genomics\",\n      \"journal\": \"Infection and immunity\",\n      \"confidence\": \"Low\",\n      \"confidence_rationale\": \"Tier 4 / Weak — computational prediction only; no experimental validation of SOAP-specific interactions reported in this paper\",\n      \"pmids\": [\"34606368\"],\n      \"is_preprint\": false,\n      \"attribution\": [\n        {\"species\": \"Plasmodium falciparum\", \"strain\": \"\"}\n      ]\n    }\n  ],\n  \"current_model\": \"SOAP (PF3D7_1404300) is a secreted, cysteine-rich micronemal protein of Plasmodium ookinetes that forms disulphide-bond-dependent high-molecular-mass complexes (including a >1,300 kDa hetero-multimeric complex with chitinase and WARP), interacts with mosquito midgut laminin, and is required for efficient midgut wall invasion and oocyst formation in vivo, but is dispensable for ookinete-to-oocyst transformation in cell-free in vitro conditions.\"\n}\n```","stage2_raw":"{\n  \"mechanistic_narrative\": \"SOAP (PF3D7_1404300) is a secreted, disulphide-bond-forming micronemal protein of Plasmodium ookinetes that is required for efficient mosquito midgut invasion and oocyst formation [#0]. In P. berghei, SOAP localizes to ookinete micronemes and assembles into high-molecular-mass complexes through disulphide bonds, and its targeted disruption markedly impairs midgut invasion and oocyst formation in vivo [#0], a role consistent with its strong interaction with mosquito midgut laminin in yeast two-hybrid assays [#1]. Its micronemal residence was independently confirmed by proteomics of purified ookinete microneme fractions [#2]. Biochemically, SOAP is a constituent of a hetero-multimeric, >1,300 kDa chitinase-containing complex secreted by ookinetes, isolated with WARP and ookinete surface enolase via chitin-bead pull-down in P. falciparum and P. gallinaceum [#4]. Its invasion function is specific to the mosquito midgut barrier rather than to ookinete-to-oocyst transformation per se: SOAP-null ookinetes transform into oocysts at wild-type rates in a cell-free in vitro system [#3]. Beyond its complex membership, adhesion role, and micronemal targeting, no further mechanistic detail on SOAP's molecular activity has been experimentally established in the available corpus.\",\n  \"teleology\": [\n    {\n      \"year\": 2003,\n      \"claim\": \"Established SOAP's cellular location, biochemical behavior, and its functional necessity for the mosquito-stage transmission bottleneck, defining it as a micronemal adhesin required for midgut invasion.\",\n      \"evidence\": \"Immunofluorescence/fractionation for localization, reducing/non-reducing SDS-PAGE for disulphide-dependent complexes, and targeted gene knockout with mosquito infection readout in P. berghei\",\n      \"pmids\": [\"12828632\"],\n      \"confidence\": \"High\",\n      \"gaps\": [\"Molecular composition of the disulphide-bonded complexes not resolved in this study\", \"Whether SOAP acts on the ookinete surface or within secreted material not distinguished\"],\n      \"attribution\": [{\"species\": \"Plasmodium berghei\", \"strain\": \"\"}]\n    },\n    {\n      \"year\": 2003,\n      \"claim\": \"Identified a candidate molecular basis for SOAP's midgut-invasion role by testing whether it engages a mosquito extracellular matrix component.\",\n      \"evidence\": \"Yeast two-hybrid assay showing SOAP binding to mosquito laminin (P. berghei)\",\n      \"pmids\": [\"12828632\"],\n      \"confidence\": \"Medium\",\n      \"gaps\": [\"Yeast two-hybrid is indirect; no direct biochemical binding or affinity measurement\", \"Interaction not confirmed in the mosquito midgut context\"],\n      \"attribution\": [{\"species\": \"Plasmodium berghei\", \"strain\": \"\"}]\n    },\n    {\n      \"year\": 2008,\n      \"claim\": \"Distinguished SOAP's invasion role from a general developmental requirement by showing it is dispensable for ookinete-to-oocyst transformation itself.\",\n      \"evidence\": \"Cell-free in vitro transformation assay comparing SOAP-null and wild-type P. berghei (ANKA) ookinetes\",\n      \"pmids\": [\"18489758\"],\n      \"confidence\": \"Medium\",\n      \"gaps\": [\"Does not identify what specifically fails during in vivo midgut traversal\", \"Single-lab in vitro readout may not capture all developmental defects\"],\n      \"attribution\": [{\"species\": \"Plasmodium berghei\", \"strain\": \"ANKA\"}]\n    },\n    {\n      \"year\": 2009,\n      \"claim\": \"Independently confirmed SOAP as a genuine micronemal constituent using an orthogonal proteomic approach.\",\n      \"evidence\": \"Gel LC-MS/MS of an EM-verified, >14-fold-enriched ookinete microneme fraction (P. berghei)\",\n      \"pmids\": [\"19206106\"],\n      \"confidence\": \"Medium\",\n      \"gaps\": [\"Proteomic co-fractionation does not establish direct partners\", \"Does not address secretion dynamics or trafficking\"],\n      \"attribution\": [{\"species\": \"Plasmodium berghei\", \"strain\": \"\"}]\n    },\n    {\n      \"year\": 2015,\n      \"claim\": \"Placed SOAP expression downstream of secretory-pathway serine protease activity, linking microneme biogenesis to SOAP accumulation.\",\n      \"evidence\": \"Ectopic expression of Neospora caninum Kazal-type protease inhibitor NcPI-S in P. berghei zygotes with IFA for SOAP and EM ultrastructure\",\n      \"pmids\": [\"25803874\"],\n      \"confidence\": \"Low\",\n      \"gaps\": [\"Indirect, single-approach: SOAP loss is a downstream readout of disrupted microneme biogenesis, not a direct SOAP manipulation\", \"Does not identify the responsible protease or a direct effect on SOAP\"],\n      \"attribution\": [{\"species\": \"Plasmodium berghei\", \"strain\": \"\"}]\n    },\n    {\n      \"year\": 2021,\n      \"claim\": \"Defined SOAP as a member of a large secreted chitinase-containing complex, connecting it biochemically to WARP and enolase in the peritrophic-matrix-crossing machinery.\",\n      \"evidence\": \"Size-exclusion chromatography and chitin-bead pull-down of ookinete-conditioned media with MS identification in P. falciparum and P. gallinaceum\",\n      \"pmids\": [\"33489941\"],\n      \"confidence\": \"Medium\",\n      \"gaps\": [\"Co-isolation does not prove direct SOAP contacts within the complex\", \"Stoichiometry and functional contribution of SOAP to the complex unresolved\"],\n      \"attribution\": [{\"species\": \"Plasmodium falciparum\", \"strain\": \"\"}, {\"species\": \"Plasmodium gallinaceum\", \"strain\": \"\"}]\n    },\n    {\n      \"year\": 2021,\n      \"claim\": \"Generated an atomic-level hypothesis for how SOAP contacts chitinase and WARP within the invasion complex.\",\n      \"evidence\": \"AlphaFold structural modeling and comparative genomics identifying conserved residues (P. falciparum)\",\n      \"pmids\": [\"34606368\"],\n      \"confidence\": \"Low\",\n      \"gaps\": [\"Computational prediction only, with no experimental validation of SOAP-specific interactions\", \"Predicted interface residues not tested by mutagenesis\"],\n      \"attribution\": [{\"species\": \"Plasmodium falciparum\", \"strain\": \"\"}]\n    },\n    {\n      \"year\": null,\n      \"claim\": \"It remains unknown how SOAP's laminin binding, its role in the secreted chitinase complex, and its requirement for midgut invasion mechanistically integrate, and whether these functions are conserved beyond the model species tested.\",\n      \"evidence\": \"\",\n      \"pmids\": [],\n      \"confidence\": \"Low\",\n      \"gaps\": [\"No direct structural or biochemical validation of SOAP interfaces\", \"Function characterized largely in P. berghei; SOAP-specific loss-of-function not reported in P. falciparum\", \"Mechanistic contribution of SOAP within the >1,300 kDa complex not dissected\"],\n      \"attribution\": []\n    }\n  ],\n  \"mechanism_profile\": {\n    \"molecular_activity\": [\n      {\"term_id\": \"GO:0005201\", \"supporting_discovery_ids\": [1]},\n      {\"term_id\": \"GO:0042802\", \"supporting_discovery_ids\": [0, 4]}\n    ],\n    \"localization\": [\n      {\"term_id\": \"GO:0020009\", \"supporting_discovery_ids\": [0, 2]},\n      {\"term_id\": \"GO:0005576\", \"supporting_discovery_ids\": [4]}\n    ],\n    \"pathway\": [\n      {\"term_id\": \"GO:0044409\", \"supporting_discovery_ids\": [0]}\n    ],\n    \"complexes\": [\n      \">1,300 kDa hetero-multimeric chitinase-containing complex (with WARP and ookinete surface enolase) [#4]\",\n      \"Disulphide-bond-dependent high-molecular-mass complexes [#0]\"\n    ],\n    \"partners\": [\n      \"Mosquito laminin (yeast two-hybrid) [#1]\",\n      \"Chitinase [#4, #6]\",\n      \"WARP [#4, #6]\",\n      \"Ookinete surface enolase [#4]\"\n    ],\n    \"other_free_text\": [\n      \"SOAP-null ookinetes are impaired in midgut invasion and oocyst formation in vivo but transform to oocysts normally in cell-free in vitro conditions [#0, #3].\",\n      \"SOAP expression depends on secretory-pathway serine protease activity required for microneme biogenesis [#5].\",\n      \"Functional characterization is predominantly in P. berghei; complex membership shown in P. falciparum and P. gallinaceum [#0, #4].\"\n    ]\n  }\n}","audit_flag":null,"strains":[{"strain":"Pf3D7","gene_id":"PF3D7_1404300","name":null,"product":"secreted ookinete adhesive protein, putative","uniprot_acc":null,"chromosome":null,"start_pos":null},{"strain":"PbANKA","gene_id":"PBANKA_1037800","name":null,"product":"secreted ookinete adhesive protein","uniprot_acc":null,"chromosome":null,"start_pos":null},{"strain":"PkH","gene_id":"PKNH_1353800","name":null,"product":"secreted ookinete adhesive protein, putative","uniprot_acc":null,"chromosome":null,"start_pos":null}],"gene_symbol":"SOAP","evaluation":null}