3D Model of Human Parasite can Prevent Malaria Deaths

A research team at the University of California, Riverside, has created a 3D model of the human malaria parasite genome at three different stages of the parasite’s life cycle. The parasite that is responsible for the development of malaria is called Plasmodium Falciparum.

So as to understand the biology of a certain organism, scientists must understand information encoded in the genome sequence. They also have to know how the sequence is compacted as well as physically organised in each tissue or cell and how the changes in 3D genome architecture can play an important role in regulating expression of genes.

In the human cells, abnormalities or changes in the chromosome compaction as well as organisation may lead to diseases as fatal as cancer. It is essential to understand the spatial organisation of different chromosomes so as to make out the gene expression.

The World Health Organization says that an estimated 207 million people were infected with malaria in the year 2012, which caused as many as 627, 000 deaths. Karine Le Roch, associate professor of cell biology and neuroscience at University of California said that if we understand the way in which the malaria parasite genome is organised inside the nucleus and which components are responsible for controlling this organisation, it may be possible for us to disrupt the organisation and also disrupt the development of the parasite.

Article source: Business Standard
Image courtesy: Getty Images

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