The mitochondrial metabolic shift in inflammatory monocytes during Plasmodium vivax malaria

Although immunometabolism has emerged as a central area of research in infectious diseases, only a few studies have focused on Plasmodium vivax infection. Here, we discuss the results obtained in our laboratory and elsewhere that show a metabolic-mitochondria shift in highly activated monocytes during P. vivax infection. While these cells show an enhanced phagocytic and microbicidal activity, they produce high levels of proinflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species that may contribute to signs of disease during acute episodes of P. vivax malaria. This review focuses on human malaria caused by P. vivax, the most widely distributed species outside Africa. A dedicated section on experimental malaria is included to provide complementary mechanistic insights and to further elucidate immunometabolic pathways.