Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi announced on July 24 that they have discovered a previously unknown vulnerability in the malaria parasite, which could inform future treatments for the disease. The study, published in Genome Biology, found that the malaria parasite depends on a specific type of fat—blood fats containing linoleic acid—to survive and multiply within the human host.
The research analyzed blood samples from 396 children in Burkina Faso before and during malaria infection. According to the findings, rather than utilizing all available nutrients, the parasite consistently selects fats with linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid obtained through diet, to support its growth during the blood stage of infection.
This discovery challenges previous scientific understanding by showing that the parasite relies on a highly specific nutrient source instead of broadly consuming nutrients from its host. The results were consistent across children from three genetically and culturally distinct ethnic groups in Burkina Faso, suggesting this is a fundamental feature of malaria infection. Laboratory experiments further confirmed the parasite's dependence on these fats.
By combining clinical samples with advanced genetic and metabolic analyses, researchers uncovered previously hidden interactions between the malaria parasite and its human host. This work provides one of the most detailed pictures yet of how the parasite acquires necessary nutrients during infection.
"Our goal is to better understand the biology of malaria so we can identify new opportunities for therapeutic intervention," said Idaghdour. "Studies like this help reveal how the parasite survives inside the human body and provide a foundation for developing more effective antimalarial strategies." The findings also raise questions about how nutrition may influence infectious diseases such as malaria.
