biostudies-literatureMolina-Franky Jepartment of Immunology and Theranostics of the City of Hope and the Fundacioόn Instituto de Inmunología de ColombiaCity of HopeFundación Instituto de Inmunología de ColombiaMedical School of the Universidad Nacional de ColombiaUniversidad Nacional de Colombia14528https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9739029biostudies-literatureUnknown23(23)<i>Plasmodium vivax</i> is the most widely distributed malaria parasite affecting humans worldwide, causing ~5 million cases yearly. Despite the disease's extensive burden, there are gaps in the knowledge of the pathophysiological mechanisms by which <i>P. vivax</i> invades reticulocytes. In contrast, this crucial step is better understood for <i>P. falciparum,</i> the less widely distributed but more often fatal malaria parasite. This discrepancy is due to the difficulty of studying <i>P. vivax</i>'s exclusive invasion of reticulocytes, which represent 1-2% of circulating cells. Its accurate targeting mechanism has not yet been clarified, hindering the establishment of long-term continuous in vitro culture systems. So far, only three reticulocyte invasion pathways have been characterised International journal of molecular sciencesThe Black Box of Cellular and Molecular Events of <i>Plasmodium vivax</i> Merozoite Invasion into Reticulocytes.PMC9739029N/AMolina-Franky JKalkum MPicon Jaimes YAReyes CPatarroyo MAfalseThe Black Box of Cellular and Molecular Events of <i>Plasmodium vivax</i> Merozoite Invasion into Reticulocytes.<i>Plasmodium vivax</i> is the most widely distributed malaria parasite affecting humans worldwide, causing ~5 million cases yearly. Despite the disease's extensive burden, there are gaps in the knowledge of the pathophysiological mechanisms by which <i>P. vivax</i> invades reticulocytes. In contrast, this crucial step is better understood for <i>P. falciparum,</i> the less widely distributed but more often fatal malaria parasite. This discrepancy is due to the difficulty of studying <i>P. vivax</i>'s exclusive invasion of reticulocytes, which represent 1-2% of circulating cells. Its accurate targeting mechanism has not yet been clarified, hindering the establishment of long-term continuous in vitro culture systems. So far, only three reticulocyte invasion pathways have been characterised 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Nov2025-04-04T08:01:02.682Z2025-04-04T08:01:02.682ZS-EPMC97390293649885410.3390/ijms232314528