Elucidating Host Cell Uptake by Malaria Parasites

Brendan Elsworth; Caroline D Keroack; Manoj T Duraisingh

doi:10.1016/j.pt.2019.03.005

Elucidating Host Cell Uptake by Malaria Parasites

Trends Parasitol. 2019 May;35(5):333-335. doi: 10.1016/j.pt.2019.03.005. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Authors

Brendan Elsworth¹, Caroline D Keroack¹, Manoj T Duraisingh²

Affiliations

¹ Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
² Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: mduraisi@hsph.harvard.edu.

PMID: 31003757
DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2019.03.005

Abstract

The malaria parasite must digest host cytoplasm for normal growth, and many studies have revealed the essential role of proteases in hemoglobin digestion. Here, we discuss the results of Jonscher et al. (Cell Host Microbe 2019;25:166-173) who have, for the first time, identified a molecule, VPS45, involved in the uptake and trafficking of host cytoplasm to the digestive vacuole.

Keywords: Plasmodium; apicomplexan; endocytosis; hemoglobin digestion; host cell uptake; malaria.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Comment

MeSH terms

Animals
Cytoplasm
Cytosol
Malaria*
Parasites*
Plasmodium falciparum
Vacuoles

Grants and funding

T32 AI049928/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States