Zoonotic Malaria: Non-<i>Laverania Plasmodium</i> Biology and Invasion Mechanisms

• Main Authors: Jing-Wen Hang, Farhana Tukijan, Erica-Qian-Hui Lee, Shifana Raja Abdeen, Yaw Aniweh, Benoit Malleret
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-07-01
• Series: Pathogens
• Subjects: zoonotic malaria; host species; genome; pathology; invasion mechanism
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/7/889

Malaria, which is caused by <i>Plasmodium</i> parasites through <i>Anopheles</i> mosquito transmission, remains one of the most life-threatening diseases affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide every year. <i>Plasmodium vivax</i>, which accounts for the majority of cases of recurring malaria caused by the <i>Plasmodium</i> (non-<i>Laverania</i>) subgenus, is an ancient and continuing zoonosis originating from monkey hosts probably outside Africa. The emergence of other zoonotic malarias (<i>P. knowlesi</i>, <i>P. cynomolgi</i>, and <i>P. simium</i>) further highlights the seriousness of the disease. The severity of this epidemic disease is dependent on many factors, including the parasite characteristics, host-parasite interactions, and the pathology of the infection. Successful infection depends on the ability of the parasite to invade the host; however, little is known about the parasite invasion biology and mechanisms. The lack of this information adds to the challenges to malaria control and elimination, hence enhancing the potential for continuation of this zoonosis. Here, we review the literature describing the characteristics, distribution, and genome details of the parasites, as well as host specificity, host-parasite interactions, and parasite pathology. This information will provide the basis of a greater understanding of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of malaria to support future development of strategies for the control and prevention of this zoonotic infection.