Erythroid cells and malaria parasites: it's a match!

Abstract

The current review outlines recent discoveries on the infection of erythroid cells by Plasmodium parasites, focusing on the molecular interactions governing the tropism of parasites for their host cell and the implications of this tropism for parasite biology and erythroid cell maturation. Although most studies about the interactions of Plasmodium parasites and their host cell focused on the deadliest human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, and the erythrocyte, there is increasing evidence that several Plasmodium species, including P. falciparum, also develop within erythroid precursors. These interactions likely modify the remodeling of the host cell by the parasite and affect the maturation of erythroblast and reticulocytes. A better understanding of the remodeling of immature erythroid cells by Plasmodium parasites will have important implications for the development of antimalarial drugs or vaccines. In addition, deciphering how Plasmodium parasites interfere with erythropoiesis will provide new insights on how these parasites contribute to anemia in malaria patients.