title: Host Cell Tropism and Adaptation of Blood-Stage Malaria Parasites: Challenges for Malaria Elimination.
abstract: Plasmodium falciparumandPlasmodium vivaxaccount for most of the mortality and morbidity associated with malaria in humans. Research and control efforts have focused on infections caused byP. falciparumandP. vivax, but have neglected other malaria parasite species that infect humans. Additionally, many related malaria parasite species infect nonhuman primates (NHPs), and have the potential for transmission to humans. For malaria elimination, the varied and specific challenges of all of thesePlasmodiumspecies will need to be considered. Recent advances in molecular genetics and genomics have increased our knowledge of the prevalence and existing diversity of the human and NHPPlasmodiumspecies. We are beginning to identify the extent of the reservoirs of each parasite species in humans and NHPs, revealing their origins as well as potential for adaptation in humans. Here, we focus on the red blood cell stage of human infection and the host cell tropism of each humanPlasmodiumspecies. Determinants of tropism are unique among malaria parasite species, presenting a complex challenge for malaria elimination.
authors.affiliation: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
authors.forename: Caeul
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
authors.forename: Selasi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dankwa
authors.affiliation: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
authors.forename: Aditya S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.affiliation: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
authors.forename: Manoj T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Duraisingh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009033:Culicidae / Q000469:parasitology; D060740:Disease Eradication; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017780:Malaria Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000072138:Mosquito Vectors; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D056189:Viral Tropism
chemical_list: D017780:Malaria Vaccines