Focus 09 October 2008

Malaria

Malaria continues to claim a significant number of lives worldwide, estimated at ~ 1 million each year. The genome sequence of the most prominent human parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, was published in Nature in 2002. We are now proud to present the genome sequences of two additional human parasites, Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium knowlesi, along with a Review article discussing the scientific discoveries that have been aided by this information. In addition, we present a collection of papers illustrating highlights in malaria research that were published in recent years.

Current research

Malaria research in the post-genomic era
- Elizabeth Ann Winzeler
Review Article9 Oct 2008 Nature
Comparative genomics of the neglected human malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax
- Jane M. Carlton
- John H. Adams
- Claire M. Fraser-Liggett
ArticleOpen Access9 Oct 2008 Nature
The genome of the simian and human malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi
- A. Pain
- U. Böhme
- M. Berriman
LetterOpen Access9 Oct 2008 Nature
Sex ratio adjustment and kin discrimination in malaria parasites

Malaria parasites must reproduce sexually to transmit to vectors, but very little is understood about their reproductive strategies. This paper details that malaria parasites adjust their sex ratios in response to unrelated conspecifics, as predicted by evolutionary theory.
- Sarah E. Reece
- Damien R. Drew
- Andy Gardner
Article29 May 2008 Nature
Sex ratios writ small

The evolutionary theory of sex ratios should apply to all creatures, both great and small. Experimental studies of the proportions of male to female sex cells of malaria parasites deliver cheering results.
- Jos. J. Schall
News & Views28 May 2008 Nature
Distinct physiological states of Plasmodium falciparum in malaria-infected patients

This study presents the first large scale transcriptional analysis of malaria parasites isolated from human patients, and defines three distinct transcriptional patterns that can be described as active growth, response to starvation and environmental stress response.
- J. P. Daily
- D. Scanfeld
- A. Regev
Letter28 Nov 2007 Nature
Differential parasite drive

Our knowledge of the inner workings of malaria parasites comes largely from lab-based studies. But parasites growing in humans may have greater metabolic flexibility than those growing in Petri dishes.
- Giel G. van Dooren
- Geoffrey I. McFadden
News & Views12 Dec 2007 Nature
Specific role of mitochondrial electron transport in blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum
- Heather J. Painter
- Joanne M. Morrisey
- Akhil B. Vaidya
Letter1 Mar 2007 Nature
The circumsporozoite protein is an immunodominant protective antigen in irradiated sporozoites
- Kota Arun Kumar
- Gen-ichiro Sano
- Victor Nussenzweig
Letter6 Dec 2006 Nature
A protective paradox

The infectious form of the malaria parasite has thousands of proteins, making it tough to develop a vaccine for it. Narrowing down which proteins cause protective immune responses may help resolve the problem.
- Stephen L. Hoffman
News & Views6 Dec 2006 Nature
Sodium-dependent uptake of inorganic phosphate by the intracellular malaria parasite

Malaria parasites trigger an increase in intracellular sodium concentration when infecting red blood cells. This effect provides a direct benefit to the parasite, as it uses the resulting gradient to energize the uptake of phosphate.
- Kevin J. Saliba
- Rowena E. Martin
- Kiaran Kirk
Letter27 Sep 2006 Nature
Production of the antimalarial drug precursor artemisinic acid in engineered yeast

Through the bio-engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae high titres of artemisinic acid were produced using a novel cytochrome P450 monooxygenase. Optimization of this process on an industrial scale may significantly reduce the cost of artemisinin, which could then be used to combat malaria in resource-poor settings.
- Dae-Kyun Ro
- Eric M. Paradise
- Jay D. Keasling
Letter13 Apr 2006 Nature
A var gene promoter controls allelic exclusion of virulence genes in Plasmodium falciparum malaria
- Till S. Voss
- Julie Healer
- Alan F. Cowman
Letter28 Dec 2005 Nature
Switching like for like

To remain hidden from its host's immune system, the malaria parasite must vary the proteins on the surface of the infected cell. The genes encoding these proteins are very similar, so how does the parasite express just one at a time?
- Piet Borst
- Paul-André Genest
News & Views22 Feb 2006 Nature
Structural basis for Duffy recognition by the malaria parasite Duffy-binding-like domain
- Saurabh Kumar Singh
- Rachna Hora
- Amit Sharma
Letter21 Dec 2005 Nature
Malaria early warnings based on seasonal climate forecasts from multi-model ensembles
- M. C. Thomson
- F. J. Doblas-Reyes
- T. N. Palmer
Letter2 Feb 2006 Nature
A protein interaction network of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum
- Douglas J. LaCount
- Marissa Vignali
- Robert E. Hughes
Letter3 Nov 2005 Nature
The Plasmodium protein network diverges from those of other eukaryotes
- Silpa Suthram
- Taylor Sittler
- Trey Ideker
Letter3 Nov 2005 Nature

Malaria

Current research

Malaria research in the post-genomic era

Comparative genomics of the neglected human malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax

The genome of the simian and human malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi

Sex ratio adjustment and kin discrimination in malaria parasites

Sex ratios writ small

Distinct physiological states of Plasmodium falciparum in malaria-infected patients

Differential parasite drive

Specific role of mitochondrial electron transport in blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum

The circumsporozoite protein is an immunodominant protective antigen in irradiated sporozoites

A protective paradox

Sodium-dependent uptake of inorganic phosphate by the intracellular malaria parasite

Production of the antimalarial drug precursor artemisinic acid in engineered yeast

A var gene promoter controls allelic exclusion of virulence genes in Plasmodium falciparum malaria

Switching like for like

Structural basis for Duffy recognition by the malaria parasite Duffy-binding-like domain

Malaria early warnings based on seasonal climate forecasts from multi-model ensembles

A protein interaction network of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

The Plasmodium protein network diverges from those of other eukaryotes

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