Malaria infection may be prevented by novel molecule

Malaria infection in humans, caused by unicellular parasites from the genus Plasmodium and transmitted via the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito, is a major global health challenge. Researchers are actively searching for new ways to fight the mosquito-borne parasites that cause the disease as well as potential new targets. Now, scientists at the French National Center for Scientific Research and collaborators report a novel molecule may be able to prevent the invasion of blood cells by parasites of the genus Plasmodium, responsible for malaria. The findings are published in Nature Communications in an article titled “Mechanism of small molecule inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum myosin A informs antimalarial drug design.” “Malaria results in more than 500,000 deaths per year and the causative Plasmodium parasites continue to develop resistance to all known agents, including different antimalarial combinations,” wrote the researchers. “The class XIV myosin motor PfMyoA is part of a core macromolecular complex called...