Exploiting the therapeutic potential of Plasmodium falciparum solute transporters

Mammalian transport proteins are essential components of cellular function that have been very successfully exploited as drug targets. Over the past few years, a small but increasing number of Plasmodium transport proteins have been validated as being crucial for parasite survival. This is an essential early step towards identifying new targets for urgently needed antimalarial drugs. Presented here is an overview of our current understanding of the transport processes used by Plasmodium parasites, with an emphasis on their therapeutic potential. It demonstrates the largely untapped potential of targeting these important pathways (including P-type ATPases, ABC transporters and K+ channels) and highlights where these parasites might be most vulnerable to intervention.