Sporozoite

Sporozoites
Nucleus Hypnozoite
Infected
Hepatocyte
Schizont
Merozoites
Erythrocyte
Ring
Trophozoite
Gametocytes
Macro-
gametocyte
Micro-
gametocyte
G
TRANSMISSION
TO MOSQUITO
LIVER
TRANSMISSION
TO MAN
Schizont
Ookinete
Oocysts
Diploid
Zygote
(Exflagellation)
e
TRANSMISSION
TO MAN
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The lifecycle of the malaria parasite
The timings are for Plasmodium falciparum only
MMV 2010.07
Blocking
transmission
Blocking the transmission of the
parasite from patient to patient is key
if malaria eradication is to be realized.
In the blood of an infected patient a minority
of parasites form gametocytes the sexual form
of the parasite. It is these gametocytes, taken up in
the mosquitos blood meal, that infect the mosquito
and thus continue the parasites lifecycle. MMV is
working to identify compounds that will target and
destroy these blood stage sexual forms (gametes)
to block transmission from man to mosquito
as well as vector stages (ookinetes and
oocysts) thereby blocking transmission
from the mosquito back
to man.
Targeting vivax
P. vivax is one of two
forms of relapsing malaria to infect
humans, and is the most prevalent spe-
cies in Southeast Asia and South America.
It has the ability to become dormant in the
liver (hypnozoite) and can be reactivated after
months or even years leading to an attack of
blood stage malaria despite the absence of a
mosquito bite. MMV is actively looking for new
molecules that will provide complete cure of
patients infected with dormant liver stage
vivax malaria, in addition to the blood
stage infections a so-called
radical cure.
Targeting
the blood stage
The majority of available
antimalarials target the blood stage in
the parasite lifecycle, since this leads to the
clinical symptoms of malaria. Current treatment
requires a 3-day administration once or twice
daily. Ideally, a drug is needed that requires just
a single oral administration, thereby improving
compliance and allowing the healthcare worker
to directly observe treatment. This is especially
important when treatment follow-up is difcult,
as is the case in many malaria-endemic
countries. MMV is currently trialing
a candidate for a single-dose
cure.
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www.mmv.org
Defeating Malaria Together