What makes P. vivax hide and later relapse in the liver
Official title: Parasite and host cell factors involved in the formation and persistence of Plasmodium vivax hypnozoites
Funded at University of Maryland Baltimore · NIH-11502986 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at parasite and liver cell factors that let P. vivax form dormant liver stages (hypnozoites) that cause relapsing malaria, to help people at risk of P. vivax infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | February 9, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $667,525 |
| NIH project number | 7R01AI172824-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11502986 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with a history of P. vivax infection or at risk for relapsing P. vivax malaria would be the most relevant candidates for sample donation or future clinical tests linked to this research.
✕Less likely to help
People with non–P. vivax malaria, those needing immediate clinical care for acute infections, or individuals not able to access collaborating sites are unlikely to get direct benefit from this basic laboratory research.
What this research studies
If you are affected by P. vivax malaria, this project uses lab models to find what allows the parasite to become and stay dormant in liver cells and what triggers relapse. The team uses human liver cells grown in the lab and a humanized-liver mouse model that supports P. vivax hypnozoites, plus a genetically defined P. vivax Chesson strain to make results more reproducible. They combine molecular genetics, cell biology, and infection experiments to find parasite genes and host hepatocyte factors linked to hypnozoite formation and persistence. Findings will guide targets for new drugs or interventions to prevent relapse.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify targets for treatments that prevent P. vivax relapses and reduce the burden of repeated malaria episodes.
How similar studies have gone: Recent work using humanized-liver mice and primary human hepatocyte systems has opened the field and produced promising insights, but the precise molecular drivers of P. vivax hypnozoites remain largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
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University of Maryland Baltimore
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kappe, Stefan Hi — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Kappe, Stefan Hi
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.