The highly adaptive nature of P. falciparum and the emergence of resistance to most antimalarial drugs pose a challenge in malaria control. There is evidence that parasites enter a reduced metabolic state, termed latency, in order to withstand drug treatment. This phenotype is understudied due to a lack of markers and methods to enrich this parasite form. By taking advantage of our recent methodological advancements, I aim to study the role of latency in P. falciparum stress response and enhanced survival. The investigation the role of latency will also allow us to characterize various mechanistic players in the survival signaling of the parasite. Using our method of parasite enrichment combined with microscopy, I will also examine the morphological markers of latent parasites. Our phenotypic characterization of enhanced survival involves the evaluation the temporal stability of the enhanced survival phenotype and response to multiple stressors acting simultaneously. These studies will provide important insights into the mechanisms and evolution of enhanced survival and detection of latent parasites.
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