Blowing the cover of the stealthy malaria parasite:Part of the reason why malaria is so persistent a

Blowing the cover of the stealthy malaria parasite:

Part of the reason why malaria is so persistent after infection occurs is that it is concealed from detection by white blood cells. Through most of their life cycles, the Plasmodium parasites that cause the disease hide within red blood and liver cells where they are effectively invisible.

That’s where the recently-studied and catchily-named compound (+)-SJ733 comes in. Research has shown this chemical to inhibit one of the parasite’s vital proteins in order to kickstart a series of physical changes for red blood cell in which it resides. This makes the infected cells look aged to the immune system, marking them for retirement by destruction as is normal. 

By this mechanism, infected cells are systematically wiped out before the parasite can spread, and normal red blood cells are left unharmed! Trials so far have shown promising results and better yet, there is potential to “develop an affordable, fast-acting combination therapy that cures malaria with a single dose,” according to one of the co-authors of the study. Certainly, an affordable treatment would be welcome in countries where malaria is most prevalent.

Planning has now begun for human trials of the compound. The chances are that it won’t be seen in action for some time to come. 

Image: two malaria-infected red blood cells, credit to Lennart Nilsson.