Researchers Discover New Molecule with Potential as a Malaria '"Drug"
MICROBIOLOGY
9/23/2024
Researchers from La Trobe University have successfully identified a protein molecule named WD34, which has the ability to suppress infections caused by various species of Plasmodium, the parasite responsible for malaria. In their study, published in Nature Communications in August 2024, the researchers demonstrated how WD34 binds to Apical Membrane Antigen-1 (AMA1), a key protein that plays a crucial role in the invasion mechanism of Plasmodium into host cells. AMA1 normally functions by binding to the rhoptry neck protein (RON) complex, which is essential for the parasite’s penetration into cells. By attaching to AMA1 at the same site as RON, WD34 effectively disrupts this binding, significantly reducing the ability of Plasmodium to infect and invade host cells. Moreover, through experiments on female BALB/c mouse models, the researchers showed that WD34 could temporarily suppress P. berghei infections and inhibit critical stages of the Plasmodium life cycle. These findings highlight WD34’s potential as a promising approach for both preventing and treating diseases caused by Plasmodium infections, such as malaria.
