Dissecting the molecular basis of actin filament disassembly in the malaria parasite

疟原虫的细胞运动是疟原虫感染和疾病的基础。然而，虽然寄生虫马达驱动运动的核心组成部分是已知的，但对它们的调节知之甚少，特别是肌动蛋白-所有寄生虫运动背后的动力。在这里，通过解剖肌动蛋白解聚因子-1，一个重要的寄生虫肌动蛋白调节器的作用，我们希望揭示一个中央过程，运动的基础，并将其发展成为一个潜在的药物靶点。

Cell movement by the malaria parasites is fundamental to parasite infection and disease. However, whilst core components of the parasite motor driving movement are known, little is understood about their regulation, in particular actin – the dynamic force behind all parasite motility. Here by dissecting the role of actin-depolymerizing-factor-1, an essential parasite actin regulator, we hope to reveal one of the central processes that underlies motility and develop it into a potential drug target.