Tricking the Immune System to Fight Malaria

Dec-09-14 A new compound tricks the body's immune system into attacking red blood cells infected with the malaria parasite by making the cells appear as they are ready to die.

Part of the job of the body's immune system is to rid itself naturally of aging red blood cells. The compound used in the treatment, called (+)-SJ733, targets a specific protein in the malaria parasite (ATP4) and inhibits its activity. This causes the infected cell to shrink and become more rigid—displaying the same characteristics as an aging red blood cell and triggering the immune system attack. The other, healthy red blood cells are left unharmed.

In tests in mice, the a single dose of the compound destroyed 80 percent of the parasites within 24 hours, and the parasite was undetectable after 48 hours.

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[POPSCI.COM]
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