Metabolite-effector immunity against malaria

Miguel P Soares1, Miguel Mesquita2, Ana Figueiredo2

  • 1Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM), Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-035 Lisboa, Portugal; Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-035 Lisboa, Portugal.

Trends in Parasitology
|August 12, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Jaundice, characterized by bilirubin accumulation, may be an adaptive response to malaria. This perspective reframes bilirubin as a key component of metabolic immunity against Plasmodium parasites.

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