Genetic and Molecular Research on the Malaria Parasite
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Microbiology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2026 | Viewed by 1089
Special Issue Editors
Interests: Plasmodium; Eimeria
Interests: malaria; malaria vaccine; DNA vaccine; cancer; infectious disease
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Malaria remains a significant global health burden, caused by Plasmodium parasites that exhibit a highly complex life cycle and remarkable adaptability to their hosts. Despite decades of research, effective and lasting control remains elusive due to persistent challenges such as drug resistance, antigenic variation, and the lack of broadly protective vaccines.
Recent advances in molecular biology, immunology, and genomics have provided valuable insights into the parasite’s biology and its interaction with the host immune system. This includes mechanisms of immune evasion, host-protective immune responses, immunopathology, and immune modulation. Understanding these dynamics is crucial not only for elucidating the pathogenesis of malaria but also for developing next-generation vaccines and immunotherapies.
This Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences aims to highlight recent progress in genetic and molecular research on Plasmodium species. Topics of interest include gene regulation, genome editing, epigenetic mechanisms, host–parasite interactions, immune response dynamics, vaccine development, and molecular pathways essential for parasite survival and transmission.
We welcome original research articles, reviews, and short communications that contribute to unraveling the molecular complexity of malaria and to identifying new targets for intervention. We hope that this issue will foster further scientific discussion and accelerate innovation in malaria control strategies.
Prof. Dr. Hajime Hisaeda
Dr. Takashi Imai
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- plasmodium
- malaria parasite
- molecular biology
- genomics
- gene expression
- host–parasite interaction
- drug resistance
- vaccine development
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