Natures wonders: malaria uses special tricks (Introduction)

by David Turell , Monday, April 13, 2020, 19:03 (1683 days ago) @ David Turell

It still kills 400,000 folks a year, and one of its tricks is to make red cells sticky:

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-deadliest-malaria-strain-immune.html

"The parasite causing the most severe form of human malaria uses proteins to make red blood cells sticky, making it harder for the immune system to destroy it and leading to potentially fatal blood clots. New research at the Crick has identified how the parasite may control this process.

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"Once it enters the human bloodstream, the parasite releases proteins into the host's red blood cell which are then presented on the outside surface of the cell. These proteins stick to other blood cells and blood vessel walls so that the infected cells no longer circulate around the body and pass through the spleen. This protects the parasite as the spleen and the immune cells inside it would destroy these infected cells.

"This stickiness can also lead to blood cells lumping together into blood clots. By blocking the blood flow to vital organs, these clots can have fatal consequences, especially if they form in the brain or placenta.

"Once it enters the human bloodstream, the parasite releases proteins into the host's red blood cell which are then presented on the outside surface of the cell. These proteins stick to other blood cells and blood vessel walls so that the infected cells no longer circulate around the body and pass through the spleen. This protects the parasite as the spleen and the immune cells inside it would destroy these infected cells.

"This stickiness can also lead to blood cells lumping together into blood clots. By blocking the blood flow to vital organs, these clots can have fatal consequences, especially if they form in the brain or placenta.

"'In our research, we tested what happened when we removed different protein kinases from the parasite, while it is living in human blood. One protein played an important role in controlling cell stickiness, while others may be required for yet unknown aspects of the parasite's biology.'"

Comment: Clever Plasmodium falciparum that learns these tricks to cause black water fever, the common name. My view is it came in the beginning with these attributes present. Otherwise the human immune system might have destroyed it. dhw will ask about God's role. Well, He obviously allowed it to evolve, assuming our braininess could handle it.