Beyond the MEP Pathway: a novel kinase required for prenol utilization by malaria parasites

Abstract

Plasmodium falciparum causes the most severe form of human malaria, a parasitic disease with a high global burden. In 2021, the World Health Organization reported an estimated 247 million cases of malaria and 619,000 malaria-related deaths, with the majority occurring among children and pregnant women in Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2021, 96% of all malaria-related deaths occurred in this region. Resistance to current antimalarial drugs is a significant challenge for malaria control, leading to increased morbidity and mortality (WHO, 2022). Therefore, the identification and development of novel antimalarial therapies are urgently needed.