(Press-News.org) An international team of scientists has shed light on the development of the malaria parasite and have identified a unique protein essential for its survival and transmission, which offers a promising new target for antimalaria drugs.
The discovery centres on a molecule named Aurora-related kinase 1 (ARK1). In a new study published in Nature Communications, researchers from the University of Nottingham, National Institute of Immunology (NII), India, University of Groningen, the Netherlands, the Francis Crick Institute, and international collaborators, have revealed that ARK1 acts as a ‘traffic controller’ during the parasite's unusual cell division and growth process.
Malaria remains one of the world's deadliest diseases, caused by Plasmodium parasites that replicate rapidly within humans and mosquitoes. Understanding how these parasites divide and multiply is crucial to stopping the disease.
Unlike human cells, the malaria parasite divides and grows in a unique, atypical way. The research team discovered that ARK1 is responsible for organising the ‘spindle’ —the molecular machinery that pulls genetic material apart to create new parasites.
When the researchers turned off ARK1 in the lab, the results were striking. The parasite could no longer form proper spindles, causing its replication to fail, and crucially, parasites lacking ARK1 could not complete their development both in the host and the mosquito, effectively stopping the disease from being passed on.
“The name 'Aurora' refers to the Roman goddess of dawn, and we believe this protein truly heralds a new beginning in our understanding of malaria cell biology," said Dr Ryuji Yanase first author of the study from the School of Life Sciences at the University of Nottingham.
"Plasmodium divides via distinct processes in the human and mosquito host, it was well and truly a team effort, which allowed us to appreciate the role of ARK1 almost simultaneously in the two hosts and shed light on novel aspects of parasite biology," said Annu Nagar and Dr Pushkar Sharma from the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC)-NII, New Delhi.
"What makes this discovery so exciting is that the malaria parasite's 'Aurora' complex is very different from the version found in human cells. This divergence is a huge advantage," Professor Tewari added. "It means we can potentially design drugs that target the parasite's ARK1 specifically, turning the lights out on malaria without harming the patient."
This study maps out the unconventional molecular machinery of the parasite, providing a "blueprint" for future drug discovery efforts aimed at breaking the cycle of malaria transmission.
END
Scientists identify key protein that stops malaria parasite growth
2026-02-26
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Wildfire smoke linked to rise in violent assaults, new 11-year study finds
2026-02-26
A new study spanning eleven years of data has revealed a clear link between wildfire smoke pollution and an increase in violent assaults in Seattle. These findings represent the first direct causal evidence that short-term exposure to wildfire-driven air pollution can increase interpersonal violence in an urban environment.
As wildfires intensify around the world due to climate change, Lion Kircheis, the author of the study warns that air-quality deterioration may be driving ...
New technology could use sunlight to break down ‘forever chemicals’
2026-02-26
An international team of scientists led by the University of Bath has developed a new catalyst – a substance that speeds up chemical reactions – that uses sunlight to break down so-called ‘forever chemicals’ prevalent in the environment and known to accumulate in the human body with unknown long-term health effects.
They hope this technology could in the future be scaled up and used to detect or remove these persistent chemicals from the environment.
Published today in ...
Green hydrogen without forever chemicals and iridium
2026-02-26
Green hydrogen is considered an indispensable component of the global energy transition, but its production still faces massive economic and environmental hurdles. For example, the promising PEM (proton exchange membrane) electrolysis process, which is particularly suitable for producing green hydrogen when the supply of electricity from wind power and photovoltaic systems fluctuates, is still very expensive compared to production using fossil fuels. Sustainability also needs to be scrutinised here. This is because it relies on environmentally hazardous ...
Billion-DKK grant for research in green transformation of the built environment
2026-02-26
The construction sector is currently responsible for 37 percent of global CO2 emissions and therefore holds enormous potential in the green transition. It requires new knowledge to change the way we build and maintain the existing building stock if resource consumption and climate footprint are to be reduced. This is the background for a new research program called Civil Engineering and the Green Transition in the Built Environment (CEBE), which will research new solutions to promote sustainability in the built environment.
As ...
For solar power to truly provide affordable energy access, we need to deploy it better
2026-02-26
Small household solar power systems have been gaining traction—and investment—as means to provide affordable and sustainable energy to those living without access to electricity.
But new research led by the University of Michigan shows that simply having access to solar technology does not mean people will adopt it and realize access to meaningful energy services. In a series of three peer-reviewed articles, researchers led by Pamela Jagger published results from a two-year study that involved surveying more than 1,000 households in Malawi, an African nation with one of the world's lowest energy access rates.
The study, supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation, ...
Middle-aged men are most vulnerable to faster aging due to ‘forever chemicals’
2026-02-26
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – ‘forever chemicals’ in common parlance – are a class of thousands of synthetic chemicals often used in non-stick coatings, water-resistant fabrics, fire-fighting foams, food packages, cleaning products, and plastics. They contain exceptionally strong molecular bonds, which makes them hard to break down. PFAS pollution is increasingly detectable in water, soil, and tissues of organisms, and some have been implicated in human cancers, obesity, infertility, and hormonal imbalances.
A ...
Starving cancer: Nutrient deprivation effects on synovial sarcoma
2026-02-26
Synovial sarcoma is an aggressive malignant tumor that primarily affects the limbs of teenagers and young adults. While it can be cured if completely removed by surgery, recurrence or metastasis, the spread of cancer to organs such as the lungs, can make treatment difficult and life-threatening. This may also render radiation and chemotherapy ineffective. Therefore, current treatments alone are insufficient, and new treatments are needed.
Fortunately, cancer research has changed focus and now theorizes new solutions in energy metabolism, asking “What nutrients do ...
Speaking from the heart: Study identifies key concerns of parenting with an early-onset cardiovascular condition
2026-02-26
February 26, 2026 – While heart disease in younger populations is rising globally, there have been virtually no studies examining parenting while navigating an early-onset cardiovascular condition. To address this gap, new focus group research has pinpointed the main concerns of parents with an early-onset cardiovascular condition facing the complex task of managing their own recovery while raising younger children. The study in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, published by Elsevier, highlights the need for developmentally appropriate communication ...
From the Late Bronze Age to today - Old Irish Goat carries 3,000 years of Irish history
2026-02-26
New research has revealed that the Old Irish Goat shares a 3,000-year genetic link with goats living in
Ireland during the Late Bronze Age.
The findings suggest the rare indigenous breed represents a continuous Irish lineage stretching back
millennia.
Led by University College Dublin, in collaboration with Queen’s University Belfast and international
partners, the new biomolecular and archaeological study published in the Journal of Archaeological
Science reshapes the understanding of Ireland’s agricultural past and supports conservation of the Old
Irish Goat as a living link to ancient farming communities.
Oldest goat remains in Ireland
Researchers analysed ...
Emerging class of antibiotics to tackle global tuberculosis crisis
2026-02-26
Researchers from the University of Sydney and the Centenary Institute have discovered how a promising class of experimental antibiotics disrupts the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB), paving the way for urgently needed new treatments.
Globally, TB remains a major health crisis, claiming around 1.2 million lives each year and ranking among the world’s deadliest infectious diseases. The rise of drug-resistant strains, including in the Asia-Pacific region, has made the search for new treatment strategies increasingly urgent.
In a study published in Nature Communications, the team investigated how three naturally occurring antibiotic compounds – ecumicin, ...