Advancement in Malaria Treatment

Over the long course of human history, infectious disease takes a huge toll on our species. Parasitic diseases are common infectious diseases. Parasites of the phylum Apicomplexa impact humans in nearly all parts of the world, causing diseases including toxoplasmosis, cryptosporidiosis, babesiosis, and malaria. We have known how to cure malaria for centuries, yet there are hundreds and thousands of people dying from malaria The emergence of drug-resistant pathogens is a major looming and/or active threat for current frontline chemotherapies. However, the limited duration of efficacy of these drugs in the field underscores the need for new and innovative approaches to discover drugs that can counter rapid resistance evolution. In addition to the loss of human life, these diseases are responsible for losses of billions of dollars annually. Hence, the research for new drug targets remains a high priority. There is a need to employ new strategies to discover resistance-resistant drug targets and chemotherapies in order to circumvent the rapid evolution of resistance in parasites.

With this Research Topic, we would like to describe the latest scientific and technological advances in the discovery and development of novel antimalarial agents as well as their targets.

This Research Topic is dedicated to studies addressing the new therapeutic agent for malaria. We welcome Original Research articles, Mini-Reviews, and Reviews under, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Development of new prophylactic and therapeutic agents for malaria.
• Repurposing of existing therapeutics for malaria.
• Exploration of the action mechanism of pharmacophores and drug candidates against malaria parasites.
• Mechanism involved in drug resistance.