Biology and Pathogenicity of Non-falciparum Malaria

Malaria is a vector-borne parasitic disease that affects more than 214 million people living in tropical countries every year, resulting in more than 450000 deaths, primarily of pregnant women and children under 5 years of age (WHO, 2018). While the major cause of malaria-related deaths is the protozoan parasite Plasmodium falciparum, it is now apparent that non-falciparum human malaria caused by P. vivax, P. knowlesi, P. ovale, and P. malariae significantly contributes to global disease burden. Furthermore, the genome diversification and phylogenetic relationship amongst these species evidences divergent determinants of pathogenicity, with an added complication arising from the dormant hypnozoite forms of P. vivax and P. ovale during liver infection. Consequently, studies of P. falciparum may not be directly translatable to non-falciparum species. To design effective species-transcendent therapeutic strategies, a thorough understanding of the pathogenesis of non-falciparum malaria-causing species is necessary.

In this Research Topic, we welcome articles that cover the following topics:
1. Molecular basis of parasite virulence (eg., microvasculature sequestration, molecular basis of uncomplicated vs. severe malaria)
2. Host immune response and host genetic factors influencing infection
3. Animal models for studying non-falciparum species of Plasmodium
4. Sexual stages and transmission of non-falciparum species of Plasmodium
5. Host cell tropism during blood stage development
6. Dormancy of P. vivax and P. ovale in the liver

The types of articles that we are looking for fall into the following categories: Brief Research Report, Hypothesis and Theory, Original Research Article, Perspective, and Review.