The ‘yin and yang’ of malaria parasite development

Scientists searching for new drug and vaccine targets to stop transmission of one of the world’s deadliest diseases believe they are closer than ever to disrupting the life-cycle of this highly efficient parasite.

Dr Rita Tewari in the School of Life Sciences at The University of Nottingham has completed what she describes as a ‘Herculean study’ into the roles played by the 30 protein phosphatases and 72 kinases – enzymes that act as the ‘yin and yang’ switches for proteins – as the malaria parasite develops in the body and then in the mosquito gut.

Research is published today, Wednesday July 9 2014, in the academic journal Cell Host and Microbe, describes the work that has just been completed into the role of protein phosphatases.

Dr Tewari said: “This latest study identifies how protein phosphatases regulate parasite development and differentiation. Our research provides a systematic functional analysis for all…