[Malaria: the end of a multimillenia reign?]

Malaria is one of the oldest and more pervasive diseases of mankind with half of the world's population still meeting with Plasmodium. The resistance of the parasite and its carrier, anopheles, at the current levels of antimalaria programs results in recurrence of this illness among the less developed tropical zones. The high risk groups for malaria are pregnant women and children, resulting in a delay of intra-uterine growth, neonatal/infantile morbidity and mortality. Recent progress in molecular biology provide new perspectives for preventive and curative solutions, more specifically in the relationship between host and parasite.