[2019-11-14] An international research consortium published in today's issue of Cell about their newest breakthrough in malaria research.The group discovered hundreds of genes that are required for efficient parasite transmission to mosquitoes through the liver.
"To identify seven metabolic pathways that are essential to a Plasmodium parasite’s ability to reproduce in the host liver is incredibly exciting. Our findings will allow malaria researchers worldwide to focus on these essential genes, in order to develop efficient drugs and vaccines to help tackle malaria", Ellen Bushell commented in the interview with Umeå University's communication office.
The study involved scientists from University of Bern, Wellcome Sanger Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), University of Geneva, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine in Hamburg, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge together with the Billker lab and Bushell lab at MIMS.
Rebecca R. Stanway et al. (2019): Genome Scale Identification of Essential Metabolic Processes for Targeting the Plasmodium Liver Stage. Cell. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2019.10.030
Read the open access publication i Science direct
Interview with Ellen Bushell on www.nordicemblpartnership.org
Press release by Umeå University in English and Swedish
Picture: Liver cells infected with Plasmodium parasites (in red), credit to University of Bern
