About this Research Topic
The Plasmodium parasite's ability to acquire nutrients from the host is a fundamental aspect of its survival and proliferation, making it a crucial target for malaria control. However, understanding and disrupting the parasite's nutrient acquisition mechanisms have posed significant challenges in terms of developing effective strategies. In attempting to overcome this problem, recent advancements in the field of Plasmodium nutrient acquisition mechanism research have shed light on key molecular processes and potential vulnerabilities. This includes identifying and targeting specific transporters, detoxification pathways, and metabolic pathways involved in nutrient uptake and utilization by the parasite. Promising strategies such as heme detoxification inhibitors, nutrient restriction, iron availability modulation, transporter disruption, immune response modulation, and combination therapies have emerged as potential approaches to curtail the Plasmodium parasite's nutritional demands. These recent advancements offer hope for the development of innovative interventions that can disrupt the parasite's nutrient acquisition mechanisms and contribute to more effective malaria control and eradication efforts.
We therefore welcome submissions on the following subthemes:
- The conundrum of iron and malaria
- Nutrient acquisition in the Plasmodium parasite
- Malaria and malnutrition
- The relationship between host factors, micronutrients, and the Plasmodium parasite
- Iron deficiency and malaria coexistence
- Heme detoxification mechanisms and inhibitors
- Transporters involved in nutrient uptake by the Plasmodium parasite
- The role of amino acids in Plasmodium metabolism and growth
- Strategies to restrict essential amino acids for parasite survival
- Modulating host iron availability and the impact this has on Plasmodium
- Disruption of nutrient transporters as a strategy to impede parasite growth
- Immune response modulation and its effect on nutrient availability to Plasmodium
- Combination therapies targeting multiple aspects of nutrient acquisition
- Identification of novel molecular targets involved in Plasmodium nutrient acquisition
- Recent advancements in understanding Plasmodium metabolic pathways and nutrient utilization
Keywords: CRISPER-Cas9, host factors, metabolism, nutrition, Plasmodium
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