Harvard researchers map essential genome of malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi

Researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health have created a detailed genetic map of the malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi. This map identifies essential genes for blood infection and those linked to drug resistance. The study, published on February 6, 2025, offers insights that could aid in developing new malaria treatments. It highlights the molecular strategies the parasite uses to grow and resist current antimalarials. The findings also relate to another malaria-causing species, P. vivax, which poses challenges for elimination efforts. The research utilized a method called transposon mutagenesis to identify essential genes in P. knowlesi.