Researchers uncover essential interaction between malaria parasites and liver cells

Scientists at the Center for Infectious Disease Research recently uncovered a critical piece in the puzzle of how malaria parasites infect their host. The work, recently published in ScienceMagazine, reveals the details of how the malaria parasite invades its initial target organ, the liver. Without infection of the liver, the parasites cannot multiply or spread to the blood. Infection of the blood causes illness, spread of the disease, and, ultimately, death. “This discovery is significant because it reveals a vital interaction between the malaria parasite and the person it infects. Before, we knew little about that interaction. The molecular details of our discovery will facilitate the design of new drugs and new vaccines,” said Alexis Kaushansky, PhD, an assistant professor at the Center for Infectious Disease Research. The discovery was made through collaborative research between the laboratories of Drs. Stefan Kappe, PhD, Noah Sather, PhD, and Alexis Kaushansky, PhD. The combination of...