Discovery could lead to new malaria treatments

A study led by researchers at The Australian National University (ANU) could lead to new treatments for combating drug-resistant malaria, as well as boost existing drugs. Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites, which are spread to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes. According to the lead authors, Dr Rowena Martin and PhD student Sarah Shafik, the ongoing evolution of parasites that are resistant to existing drugs is a significant threat to the control and elimination of malaria. Dr Martin's team looked at PfCRT, a protein that is pivotal to multidrug resistance in the malaria parasite and is also itself a promising drug target.  "For 20 years, researchers around the world have been trying to understand the function of PfCRT and why it is essential for parasite survival.