A research agenda for malaria eradication: basic science and enabling technologies

PLoS Med. 2011 Jan 25;8(1):e1000399. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1000399.

Abstract

Today's malaria control efforts are limited by our incomplete understanding of the biology of Plasmodium and of the complex relationships between human populations and the multiple species of mosquito and parasite. Research priorities include the development of in vitro culture systems for the complete life cycle of P. falciparum and P. vivax and the development of an appropriate liver culture system to study hepatic stages. In addition, genetic technologies for the manipulation of Plasmodium need to be improved, the entire parasite metabolome needs to be characterized to identify new druggable targets, and improved information systems for monitoring the changes in epidemiology, pathology, and host-parasite-vector interactions as a result of intensified control need to be established to bridge the gap between bench, preclinical, clinical, and population-based sciences.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimalarials / pharmacology
  • Antimalarials / therapeutic use
  • Biomedical Technology*
  • Culicidae / parasitology
  • Drug Resistance
  • Host-Parasite Interactions
  • Humans
  • Insect Vectors
  • Interdisciplinary Communication
  • Liver / parasitology
  • Malaria / parasitology
  • Malaria / prevention & control*
  • Metabolomics
  • Models, Animal
  • Models, Biological
  • Mosquito Control
  • Mutagenesis
  • Parasitemia / parasitology
  • Parasitology / methods
  • Plasmodium / genetics
  • Plasmodium / growth & development
  • Plasmodium / metabolism
  • Plasmodium / physiology*
  • Primates
  • Research*
  • Tissue Culture Techniques
  • Translational Research, Biomedical

Substances

  • Antimalarials