Malaria Parasite: Transport Mechanisms in Host Cell

This lecture explores the intricate interface between the Malaria Parasite and the Red Blood Cell, focusing on the installation of transport mechanisms to survive in a host cell devoid of organelles. It delves into the basics of Malaria, the blood stage of the parasite, and the crucial role of the Parasitophorous Vacuole Membrane in facilitating protein export, nutrient import, and lipid transport. The discussion includes the identification of key transporters on the Parasite Plasma Membrane, the dual function of EXP2 in protein export and nutrient import, and the correlation between EXP2 abundance and nutrient-permeable channel activity. Furthermore, it investigates the importance of the vacuole structure for lipid transport and the role of PfNCR1 in mediating lipid exchange. The lecture concludes by highlighting the essentiality of transport for the parasite's survival and its potential biomedical applications.