title: MicroRNAs and Malaria - A Dynamic Interaction Still Incompletely Understood.
abstract: Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by parasitic protozoa of the genus Plasmodium. It remains a major problem affecting humans today, especially children. However, the pathogenesis of malaria, especially severe malaria, remains incompletely understood, hindering our ability to treat this disease. Of recent interest is the role that small, non-coding RNAs play in the progression, pathogenesis of, and resistance to, malaria. Independent studies have now revealed the presence of microRNA (miRNA) in the malaria parasite, vector, and host, though these studies are relatively few. Here, we review these studies, focusing on the roles specific miRNA have in the disease, and how they may be harnessed for therapeutic purposes.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Immunology Unit, Discipline of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences & Marie Bashir Institute, The University of Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Vascular Immunology Unit, Discipline of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences & Marie Bashir Institute, The University of Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Valéry
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Combes
authors.affiliation: Vascular Immunology Unit, Discipline of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences & Marie Bashir Institute, The University of Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Georges Er
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Grau
keywords: Immunopathology; Inflammation; Malaria; Protective immunity; microRNA