Nearly half of the world’s population remains at risk for malaria with 216 million reported cases in 2016 and over 400,000 deaths. The life cycle of the Plasmodium parasite that causes malaria is complicated because it exists in several forms and shapes, and attacks the body in different ways. Understanding the life cycle of the parasite, which is passed to humans through the bite of a mosquito, is a key to helping researchers develop therapeutics to treat those infected with malaria.
Scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute developed a data analysis tool for the Plasmodium parasite that maps the gene expression of cells across its full life cycle, as it evolves from living in its mosquito host to human host. The tool is called the Malaria Cell Atlas and is being made available to all malaria researchers.
“This is the first detailed map of individual malaria parasite behavior across each stage of its complicated life cycle,” said the Sanger Institute in a statement. “The Atlas will help us to truly understand the parasite in order to effectively control malaria.”