A World of Knowledge
    Health / Health News

    Biological clocks of people and malaria parasites tick in tune

    Researchers looking for other ways to fight the mosquito-borne parasites have zeroed in on a potential new target: biological clocks.



    Colorized electron micrograph showing malaria parasite (right, blue) attaching to a human red blood cell. Photo: NIAID


    Most living things have internal clocks that govern fluctuations in everything from hunger and hormone levels to when genes are active throughout the day.

    The team found that malaria parasites somehow sync their molecular rhythms with the internal 24-hour clocks of their hosts, their respective genes rising and falling in perfect lockstep with each other over the course of a day.

    The team of researchers at Duke University, Florida Atlantic University and the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences say the findings could pave the way to new anti-malarial drugs that throw malaria's internal clock out of step with its host, essentially "jet-lagging" the parasites.

    When someone has malaria, a deadly loop repeats itself inside their body.

    The disease’s recurring fever spikes are caused by microscopic Plasmodium parasites that invade the person's red blood cells, multiply and then burst out in unison, spewing into the bloodstream by the millions to invade other cells.

    This cycle repeats itself every 24, 48 or 72 hours depending on the Plasmodium species.

    The researchers identified hundreds of genes that follow a clock-like rhythm, ramping up at certain times of day and switching off at others.

    For every turn of the parasite clock, the 24-hour body clock of their host went around twice.

    The researchers are trying to figure out exactly how the parasite and human clocks "communicate" with each other so that their cycles line up. (U.S. National Science Foundation)

    JULY 22, 2023



    YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

    Omega-3 fatty acids, which are abundant in fish and fish oil supplements, appear promising for maintaining lung health.
    A relative of jellyfish and corals regrows its entire body with help from “aging” cells.
    Repeat treatment with corticosteroid injections improved vision in people with persistent or recurrent uveitis-related macular edema better than two other therapies.
    A study of the DNA of more than 55,000 people worldwide has shed light on how we maintain healthy blood sugar levels after we have eaten, with implications for our understanding of how the process goes wrong in type 2 diabetes.
    A new study led by Stanford School of Medicine researchers has shed light on one of the cellular mechanisms behind the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet, which is known to promote longevity and overall well-being compared to diets high in fast food, meat, and dairy.
    For the first time, researchers have recorded pain-related data from inside the brain of individuals with chronic pain disorders caused by stroke or amputation (phantom limb pain).

    © 1991-2024 The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin | Titi Tudorancea® is a Registered Trademark | Terms of use and privacy policy
    Contact