Can we stop malaria parasites in the skin?

Abstract

Background Since the discovery of malaria transmission by mosquitoes, it was assumed that the parasites are injected directly into the blood stream. However, indirect experiments [1] and direct microscopic observations using mice as hosts and fluorescent rodent malaria species showed that the parasites are instead injected into the skin. These Plasmodium sporozoites then migrate rapidly through the dermis and enter blood or lymph vessels [2]. Stopping sporozoite motility also halts infection [3]. We aim at understanding the mechanisms that drive sporozoite motility and identify drug-like compounds that stop parasite locomotion. To this end, we have adapted and developed new methods including a screening pipeline to test small molecules that could interfere with motility and thus stop Plasmodium transmission at the skin stage [4,5].