Decoding plastid dynamics during cell division in malaria parasites

Malaria is a widespread global health concern, particularly contributing to child mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa. The disease, caused by the microscopic parasite Plasmodium, necessitates a comprehensive understanding of its basic cell biology to facilitate drug discovery. Within the Plasmodium cell, a crucial component is the apicoplast, a small compartment responsible for producing essential biological products. Originally bacterial, the apicoplast has evolved over millions of years to become an integral part of the Plasmodium cell. When a single Plasmodium parasite infects a human red blood cell, it undergoes growth, replication, and division, resulting in numerous daughter parasites that subsequently infect other red blood cells. During this infection process, the parasite replicates its DNA, and redistributes cellular content among the newly formed daughter parasites. A key biological mystery is how the apicoplast develops during this process and how each daughter parasite ends up with exactly one single apicoplast. Additionally, advanced microscopy techniques will be utilized to visualize microscopic events with high resolution. The completion of these studies will provide new knowledge about apicoplast dynamics and molecular organization during the development of malaria parasites and will shedding light on the enigmatic biology of this enduring human pathogen.

Basic Science

Jan 2023

Israel
United States