Essential malaria parasite genes revealed

(NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) Researchers have exploited a quirk in the genetic make-up of the deadly malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, to create 38,000 mutant strains and then determine which of the organism's genes are essential to its growth and survival. P. falciparum is responsible for about half of all malaria cases and 90 percent of all malaria deaths. New information about the parasite's critical gene repertoire could help investigators prioritize targets for future antimalarial drug development.
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news