Malaria Research and Control

This study attempts to express and purify the Plasmodium heme detoxification protein in E. coli but finds that only a truncated variant is soluble, though it lacks heme-to-Hz transformation activity.

This study compares markers and algorithms for distinguishing recrudescence from new infection in malaria treatment trials, finding SNP-rich markers provide the most consistent results.

This paper develops a multitask deep learning emulator to calibrate an agent-based malaria transmission model using simulations and real-world data.

The paper determines the cryo-EM structure of the Plasmodium falciparum Pfs230-Pfs48/45 fertilization complex and identifies domains critical for function and vaccine design.

This study shows that sub-lethal pyrethroid exposure in Anopheles mosquitoes reduces Plasmodium falciparum transmission by increasing reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, which activate an immune pathway and destroy ookinetes.

This study evaluates virus-like particle vaccines targeting a specific CSP epitope, showing that structural context and adjuvant combinations enhance antibody responses and sterilizing immunity against malaria.

plasmoRUtils streamlines bioinformatics analysis for Apicomplexan parasites by integrating data retrieval, harmonization, and analysis tools within R.

This study uses CRISPR/Cas9 to knockout plasmepsin II and III in Cambodian malaria parasites, showing increased sensitivity to piperaquine and linking plasmepsin gene copy numbers to PPQ resistance.

This study uses traction force microscopy to show that TLP modulates force generation in malaria sporozoites during gliding motility.

The paper develops an in vitro and in vivo platform for testing malaria transmission-blocking drugs using engineered Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes and humanized mice.

This study investigates the on-target activity of plasmepsin V peptidomimetics in Plasmodium falciparum by combining chemoproteomic methods and genetic validation.

The paper develops a rapid, cost-effective nanopore sequencing protocol and bioinformatics dashboard for continental-scale genomic surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in sub-Saharan Africa.

The paper analyzes genetic diversity of the malaria parasite antigen MSP2 in Sub-Saharan Africa using PCR and long-read sequencing, revealing extensive sequence variation and regional prevalence patterns.

This study investigates the spatiotemporal maturation and infectivity of Plasmodium sporozoites across different mosquito stages, showing a gradient of infectivity from midgut to saliva.

The paper identifies LSA3 as an exported protein essential for Plasmodium falciparum liver-stage development and presents it as a potential vaccine candidate.

The paper investigates the fitness consequences of selfing and outcrossing in malaria parasites using fluorescent-labelled clones and finds an outcrossing advantage linked to faster sporozoite maturation and increased recombination.

This study identifies the molecular mechanism by which var2csa functions as a switching hub to coordinate var gene expression in Plasmodium falciparum, enabling antigenic variation and chronic infection.

The paper identifies and characterizes genomic regions under positive selection in malaria vectors using whole-genome sequencing data from 4,306 mosquitoes across twenty-one countries.

The paper screens a chemical library to identify stage-specific inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum, finding compounds with nanomolar potency and distinct mechanisms against different parasite stages.

The paper quantifies random effects on mosquito density and species composition, finding greater between-village variation than between-house or year.

This study examines malaria vector diversity, transmission, and insecticide resistance in island communities along Volta Lake, finding high indoor biting and sporozoite rates with low resistance mutation frequencies.

This paper describes RUPB-61, an orally available PfPKG inhibitor that prevents liver infection by malaria sporozoites and shows activity against drug-resistant isolates.

This study shows HSP40 is essential for malaria parasite asexual replication and survival at febrile temperatures, with a specific role in heat shock tolerance rather than proteotoxic stress.

This study identifies Plasmodium aspartyl-tRNA synthetase as an antimalarial target by showing how natural products inhibit protein translation through reaction hijacking.

This study characterizes the Plasmodium falciparum Vps16 orthologue, showing its structural conservation and expression throughout the erythrocytic cycle, but finds no functional role through knockdown experiments.

This study evaluates how genetic diversity in Plasmodium vivax antigens affects serological markers for malaria exposure and finds that using multiple antigens can improve detection accuracy.

This paper develops a novel single-cell RNA sequencing technology for Plasmodium natural infections, enabling field studies in low-resource settings by validating sample preparation methods and generating a comprehensive dataset.

This study identifies taurine as a host metabolite that inhibits malaria parasite cytoadhesion in asymptomatic infections, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target.

This study examines how mould growth and outdoor exposure affect the efficacy of attractive targeted sugar baits (ATSBs) against Anopheles arabiensis, finding a non-significant reduction in feeding rates but significant decline in mortality on mouldy ATSBs.