Deceiving and escaping complement-the evasive journey of the malaria parasite

During its life cycle, Plasmodium, the malaria parasite, is exposed to the human and mosquito complement systems. Early experiments demonstrated that activation of complement can pose a serious threat to parasites, but recent studies revealed complement-evasion mechanisms important for parasite survival. Blood-stage par-asites and gametes recruit regulators to neutralize human complement activation, while ookinetes inhibit mosquito complement by disrupting epithelial nitration in response to midgut invasion. Here we provide an in-depth overview of the evasion mechanisms currently known and speculate on the existence of others not yet iden-tified. Finally, we discuss how these mechanisms could provide novel targets for urgently needed malaria vaccines and therapeutics.

Automated summary

This article provides an in-depth overview of the evasion mechanisms currently known for the malaria parasite, Plasmodium. It also speculates on the existence of other unidentified mechanisms. These mechanisms could potentially serve as novel targets for urgently needed malaria vaccines and therapeutics.