Knowledge Bank

The CRISPR/Cas9 system of gene engineering can be used to disrupt genetic information in the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Mutations made to the central marker of autophagy, ATG8, may disrupt parasite viability by altering its modification with a phospholipid. These modifications may help elucidate the exact function of ATG8 in these parasites. If this lipid modification is found to be essential, enzymes in this pathway may be viable drug targets in the continuing search for better antimalarials.