Antimicrobial peptides selectively target malaria parasites by a cholesterol-dependent mechanism

Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F61388963%3A_____%2F25%3A00618754" target="_blank" >RIV/61388963:_____/25:00618754 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2025.108298" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2025.108298</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2025.108298" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.jbc.2025.108298</a>

Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Antimicrobial peptides selectively target malaria parasites by a cholesterol-dependent mechanism
Original language description
Hundreds of thousands die annually from malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum (Pf), with the emergence of drug-resistant parasites hindering eradication efforts. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are known for their ability to disrupt pathogen membranes without targeting specific receptors, thereby reducing the chance of drug resistance. However, their effectiveness and the biophysical mechanisms by which they target the intracellular parasite remain unexplored. Here, by using native and synthetic AMPs, we discovered a selective mechanism that underlies the antimalarial activity. Remarkably, the AMPs exclusively interact with Pf-infected red blood cells, disrupting the cytoskeletal network and reaching the enclosed parasites with correlation to their activity. Moreover, we showed that the unique feature of reduced cholesterol content in the membrane of the infected host makes Pf-infected red blood cells susceptible to AMPs. Overall, this work highlights the Achilles’ heel of malaria parasite and demonstrates the power of AMPs as potential antimalarial drugs with reduced risk of resistance.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
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OECD FORD branch
10608 - Biochemistry and molecular biology

Project
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Continuities
I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year
2025
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

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