Breakthrough in malaria research looks to body's immune cells
Groundbreaking research from the Queensland Institute of Medical
Research is set to pave the way for the development of new
malaria drugs and vaccines. Traditionally, it was believed the
parasites development in the body was restricted to the liver
and red blood cells. Dr Wykes research, undertaken over several
years, provides a major breakthrough in our understanding of the
malaria parasites. Dr Wykes said the findings open up a whole
new approach to developing drugs and vaccines targeting the
infection in the spleen. Our research has discovered how white
blood cells called dendritic cells, malfunction and shield the
malaria parasite from the bodys immune attack. Dendritic cells
normally function like generals of an army, giving orders to the
bodys immune cells to fight infection, Dr Wykes said. The system
usually works brilliantly. However, the problem with malaria is
that the disease has found a way to block dendritic cells from
doing their work