Researchers shed new light on how malaria parasites evade mosquitos’ defences

The malaria parasite uses a specific molecule on its surface to get around a mosquito's immune system, allowing it to invade and infect humans. The molecule could be targeted by new transmission-blocking vaccines, or even thwarted by genetically modified mosquitos. The study, published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , was led by scientists at Imperial College London. If we find ways to target this or other such molecules, then the parasites should become vulnerable to the mosquito defences Dr Dina Vlachou Lead scientist Dr Dina Vlachou , from the Department of Life Sciences at Imperial, said: "Malaria parasites have developed sophisticated mechanisms that can help them elude the mosquito immune system and ensure transmission amongst people. "But if we find ways to target this or other such molecules, then the parasites should become vulnerable to the mosquito defences so that they can no longer be transmitted from one person to another." Evading the immune system. The group of parasites that cause malaria have a complex life cycle, having to pass through one of several certain species of mosquito before they can infect humans. The parasite enters a mosquito's gut when it bites an infected human.