Scientists identify mechanism behind drug resistance in malaria parasite

Researchers from the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) have discovered a link between malaria parasites’ resistance to antimalarial artemisinin (ART) and a cellular process called transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) modification. This discovery aims to understand how malaria parasites respond to drug-induced stress and develop resistance, and paves the way for the development of new drugs to combat resistance. ART-based combination therapies are first-line treatments for uncomplicated malaria, but Plasmodium falciparum is developing partial resistance, causing delays in eradication and making these therapies less effective.