Host–pathogen interactions in malaria: cross-kingdom signaling and mitochondrial regulation. (October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Luckhart, Shirley; Pakpour, Nazzy; Giulivi, Cecilia
• Is Part Of: Current opinion in immunology. Volume 36(2015)
• Page Start: 73
• Page End: 79
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Subjects: Immunology -- Periodicals; Allergy -- Periodicals; Immunology -- Abstracts -- Periodicals; Allergy -- Abstracts -- Periodicals; 616.079
• DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2015.07.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0952-7915

Abstract

Highlights: Mosquitoes and humans share many responses to malaria parasite infection. Conserved signaling regulates barrier and mitochondrial function during infection. Parasite success in both insect and human hosts likely depends on this conservation. This biology can be translated to novel drugs with transmission blocking activity. Abstract : Malaria parasite–host interactions are complex and have confounded available drugs and the development of vaccines. Further, we now appreciate that interventions for malaria elimination and eradication must include therapeutics with intrinsic transmission blocking activity to treat the patient and prevent disease spread. Studies over the past 15 years have revealed significant conservation in the response to infection in mosquito and human hosts. More recently, we have recognized that conserved cell signaling cascades in mosquitoes and humans dictate infection outcome through the regulation of mitochondrial function and biogenesis, which feed back to host immunity, basic intermediary metabolism, and stress responses. These responses — reflected clearly in the primeval insect host — provide fertile ground for innovative strategies for both treatment and transmission blocking.