A common protein export pathway in malaria parasites

Protozoan parasites that cause malaria export hundreds of proteins into their host red blood cell cytosol, and some even beyond that to the extracellular environment. These proteins have a wide range of functions that are crucial to parasite virulence and/or parasite survival in the human host. It has been thought for some time that a common link to all these proteins is the mechanism by which they are exported. Recently, we have revealed much of how this export occurs, including the discovery of a novel translocon through which exported proteins must pass. As a common portal for many essential proteins this translocon becomes a strongly validated drug target.