Iron transport pathways in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum revealed by RNA-sequencing.

ABSTRACT: Host iron deficiency is protective against severe malaria as the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum depends on bioavailable iron from its host to proliferate. The essential pathways of iron acquisition, storage, export, and detoxification in the parasite differ from those in humans, as orthologs of the mammalian transferrin receptor, ferritin, or ferroportin, and a functional heme oxygenase are absent in P. falciparum. Thus, the proteins involved in these processes may be excellent targets for therapeutic development, yet remain largely unknown. Here, we show that parasites cultured in erythrocytes from an iron-deficient donor displayed significantly reduced growth rates compared to those grown in red blood cells from healthy controls. Sequencing of parasite RNA rev

SUBMITTER: Wunderlich J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11578967 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature