JERUSALEM, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Israeli researchers have discovered a sophisticated way in which the deadly malaria parasite keeps the host's immune system jammed, the Weizmann Institute of Science said in a statement on Wednesday.
Their study, published in Cell Reports, showed that the parasite sends tiny packages, called vesicles, into human immune cells to confuse and disable them.
These vesicles carry messenger RNA molecules that can enter the nucleus, "control center" of the cell, and interfere with the cell's normal processes.
Normally, immune cells produce proteins that fight infections, but when the parasite's molecules get inside, they scramble this process. Important immune proteins are not made correctly and are often destroyed, leaving the host less able to fight malaria.
The researchers explained that this is a clever "decoy" strategy, as the immune system is distracted by the manipulated cells, while the parasites quietly multiply in red blood cells.
This discovery not only helps explain how malaria spreads so effectively but could also lead to new treatments that block the parasite's interference.
The researchers said that similar strategies may exist in other infections and diseases, such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, in which vesicles carry molecules that affect surrounding cells.
Understanding these tiny hijackers could help doctors develop better ways to detect, treat, and even prevent serious illnesses, they noted. ■
