Understanding how malaria parasites synchronize their life cycle with daily rhythms
Elucidating the mechanism for malaria rhythmicity: an underlying circadian clock of the parasite
This study is looking at how malaria parasites time their life cycle to cause fevers at the same time each day, and it hopes to find out how things like what you eat might affect this timing, which could help us come up with better ways to treat malaria symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11070681 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates the underlying mechanisms that cause malaria parasites to synchronize their life cycle with daily rhythms, leading to recurring fevers in infected individuals. The study focuses on the parasite's cell cycle, which bursts red blood cells at regular intervals, and explores the possibility of an internal circadian clock that regulates this process. By examining how factors like host nutrition influence the timing of these cycles, the research aims to uncover new insights into the biology of malaria and its symptoms. This could potentially lead to novel therapeutic strategies to manage malaria symptoms more effectively.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with malaria, particularly those experiencing recurrent fevers.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have malaria or are not experiencing symptoms related to the disease may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for malaria by targeting the mechanisms that cause fever and other symptoms.
How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown success in understanding circadian rhythms in various organisms, but this specific approach to malaria is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Berkeley, United States
- University of California Berkeley — Berkeley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rijo-Ferreira, Filipa — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Rijo-Ferreira, Filipa
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.