Malaria genome
8 October 2002
The sequence of the genome of Plasmodium falciparum, the most important cause of malaria in humans, has been published in Nature.
The genome sequence has already begun to generate new discoveries, including several new families of genes and the full repertoire of previously known gene families. Study of these genes will help researchers understand better parasite variability, one way in which parasites evade the host's defences, and the adhesion of infected red blood cells to the walls of blood vessels, which underlies some of the worst symptoms of malaria.
Genome data will also enable researchers to reconstruct entire metabolic pathways of the malaria parasite. Pathways specific to the parasite, or known to be essential to its survival, are highly prized by researchers searching for new drug targets - who will now have access to all the steps in a pathway rather than just one or two.
The directory of parasite gene sequences also enables researchers to search for proteins likely to stimulate strong immune responses, a valuable aid to those working on malaria vaccines.
The sequencing project has been carried out in a transatlantic collaboration involving the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, The Institute for Genomic Research in Rockville, USA, and Stanford University. It was funded jointly by the Wellcome Trust, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, US Department of Defense and the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease.
See also
- Malaria website (Further details about the malaria genome)
- Double success in fight against Malaria (Press release: 2 October 2002)