Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 16, 2025

Methods to Investigate the Regulatory Role of Small RNAs and Ribosomal Occupancy of Plasmodium falciparum
10:22

Methods to Investigate the Regulatory Role of Small RNAs and Ribosomal Occupancy of Plasmodium falciparum

Published on: December 4, 2015

9.0K

Beyond cuts and scrapes: plasmin in malaria and other vector-borne diseases

Zarna Rajeshkumar Pala1, Medard Ernest1, Brendan Sweeney1

  • 1Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA.

Trends in Parasitology
|October 15, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Vector-borne pathogens like Plasmodium hijack the body's blood clot system (fibrinolysis) to infect hosts and vectors. Targeting these interactions offers novel therapeutic strategies against pathogen transmission.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Parasitology
  • Hematology

Background:

  • Vector-borne pathogens have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to evade host defenses.
  • The mammalian fibrinolytic system, crucial for blood clot breakdown, is a key target for pathogen manipulation.
  • Plasmin, the central protease of fibrinolysis, plays a role in both host homeostasis and pathogen infection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the mechanisms by which vector-borne pathogens interact with the fibrinolytic system.
  • To explore how pathogens co-opt fibrinolytic functions for transmission and infection.
  • To discuss novel therapeutic strategies targeting pathogen-fibrinolytic interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of scientific studies on vector-borne pathogens and the fibrinolytic system.
  • Analysis of molecular mechanisms underlying pathogen-host interactions.
  • Synthesis of current knowledge on therapeutic interventions.

Main Results:

  • Vector-borne pathogens, including Plasmodium, utilize components of the fibrinolytic system to facilitate infection.
  • Pathogens manipulate plasmin activity to aid in host cell invasion and dissemination.
  • These interactions are critical for both human host infection and invertebrate vector transmission.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding pathogen exploitation of the fibrinolytic system is crucial for developing new treatments.
  • Targeting the interface between pathogens and fibrinolytic proteins presents a promising avenue for novel therapeutics.
  • Innovative strategies are needed to disrupt these interactions and prevent disease transmission.
Keywords:
fibrinolysismalariaplasminvector-borne diseases

More Related Videos

Standard Membrane Feeding Assay for the Detection of Plasmodium falciparum Infection in Anopheles Mosquito Vectors05:28

Standard Membrane Feeding Assay for the Detection of Plasmodium falciparum Infection in Anopheles Mosquito Vectors

Published on: May 12, 2022

3.2K
In Vitro Assay of Plasmodium-Infected Red Blood Cell Killing by Cytotoxic Lymphocytes08:20

In Vitro Assay of Plasmodium-Infected Red Blood Cell Killing by Cytotoxic Lymphocytes

Published on: August 17, 2022

2.3K

Related Concept Videos

Symbiosis00:58

Symbiosis

Symbiotic relationships are long-term, close interactions between individuals of different species that affect the distribution and abundance of those species. When a relationship is beneficial to both species, this is called mutualism. When the relationship is beneficial to one species but neither beneficial nor harmful to the other species, this is called commensalism. When one organism is harmed to benefit another, the relationship is known as parasitism. These types of relationships often...
34.1K
Overview of Protists01:27

Overview of Protists

Protists are diverse eukaryotic microorganisms that lack the specialized tissues of plants and animals and the chitinous cell walls of fungi. Their early divergence within Eukarya resulted in structural, functional, and ecological diversity. They are classified into supergroups such as Archaeplastida, Excavata, Amoebozoa, Rhizaria, Alveolata, and Stramenopiles, determined through genetic analysis and structural similarities.Structural and Functional AdaptationsProtists have various adaptations...
493
Diversity of Protists II01:27

Diversity of Protists II

Alveolates are a group of organisms recognized by the presence of alveoli, which are cytoplasmic sacs located beneath the cell membrane. While their function remains uncertain, alveoli may help regulate water balance by controlling how much water enters and leaves the cell. In dinoflagellates, these structures may serve as armor plates. There are three major types of alveolates: ciliates, which move using cilia; dinoflagellates, which use flagella for movement; and apicomplexans, which are...
341
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins01:30

Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins

Hemostasis is a crucial process that prevents excessive blood loss from damaged blood vessels. It involves various mechanisms such as vasoconstriction, platelet adhesion and activation, and fibrin formation. The importance of each mechanism depends on the type of vessel injury. In contrast, thrombosis is the abnormal formation of a blood clot within the blood vessels, leading to potential complications if the clot obstructs blood flow. Thrombosis can be caused by increased coagulability of the...
1.1K
Cytoskeletal Linker Proteins - Plakins01:09

Cytoskeletal Linker Proteins - Plakins

Plakins are large proteins with binding domains for microtubules, microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and membrane-associated protein complexes at cell junctions. Plakin functions are evolutionarily conserved and are primarily involved in organizing the different components of the cytoskeleton by crosslinking them to each other and connecting them to the cell-matrix and cell adhesion complexes. They are also known to interact with signal transducers, serve as scaffolds for signaling...
2.5K
Clot Retraction and Fibrinolysis01:16

Clot Retraction and Fibrinolysis

After a fibrin clot is formed, the next step is clot retraction, a vital process facilitated by platelet contractile proteins, such as actin and myosin. These proteins pull the fibrin strands closer together and condense the clot. This action reduces the size of the clot, creating a smaller, denser structure that effectively seals off the damaged vessel. Clot retraction consolidates the clot and helps with wound healing by bringing the edges of the damaged blood vessel closer together.
7.5K