Scientists locate malaria parasites’ Achilles healApril 22nd,
2012 - 2:59 pm ICT by IANS London, April 22 (IANS) Scientists
have identified a key protein common to malaria parasites,
opening the way to more effective vaccines or drugs against the
life-threatening infections caused by the micro-organisms. The
protein has sticky properties that enable it to bind to red
blood cells among humans and other animals and form dangerous
clumps that can block blood vessels. These clumps can cause
severe illness, including coma and brain damage. Scientists from
the University of Edinburgh worked with researchers from
Cameroon, Mali, Kenya and the Gambia to test their antibodies
against the parasites collected from patients, the journal
Public Library of Science Pathogens, reports. Alexandra Rowe,
professor at the Edinburgh School of Biological Sciences, who
led the study, said: “We knew that clusters, or rosettes, of
blood cells were found in many cases of severe or life-
threatening malaria, so we looked at rosette-form