J. R. Beck

Nuclear pore complexes undergo Nup221 exchange during blood stage asexual replication of Plasmodium parasites.

This study uses U-ExM and RITE to show Nup221 turnover in P. berghei NPCs during blood-stage replication.

PEXEL is a proteolytic maturation site for both exported and non-exported Plasmodium proteins

The paper shows that non-exported Plasmodium proteins also contain PEXEL motifs that are processed by PMV, but specific residues in the mature N-terminus determine export.

Knock-sideways by inducible ER retrieval enables anovel approach for studying Plasmodium secreted proteins

The paper introduces knockER, a method to conditionally sequester Plasmodium secreted proteins in the ER, enabling loss-of-function studies and sub-compartmental resolution of protein function.

The PTEX pore component EXP2 is important for intrahepatic development during the Plasmodium liver stage

This study uses a ribozyme-based approach to show EXP2 is essential for Plasmodium liver stage development, highlighting its role in the PTEX translocon at the hepatocyte-parasite interface.

Promising Antimalarials targeting Apicoplast DNA Polymerase from Plasmodium falciparum

The paper identifies key structural motifs for inhibiting apicoplast DNA polymerase (apPOL) and validates it as an antimalarial target.

Discovery of small molecule inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum apicoplast DNA polymerase

The paper screens small-molecule libraries to identify inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum apicoplast DNA polymerase, finding nine potent compounds that inhibit parasite growth.

Dramatic consequences of reducing erythrocyte membrane cholesterol on Plasmodium falciparum

This paper shows that reducing erythrocyte membrane cholesterol with MβCD causes rapid expulsion of Plasmodium falciparum trophozoites, and antimalarials targeting PfATP4 or PfNCR1 inhibit this process.

Native structure of the RhopH complex, a key determinant of malaria parasite nutrient acquisition

The paper determines the native structure of the RhopH complex from malaria parasites using cryo-EM and mass spectrometry, revealing insights into its assembly and trafficking.

EXP1 is required for organization of the intraerythrocytic malaria parasite vacuole

This study investigates the role of EXP1 in maintaining the structure of the malaria parasite's parasitophorous vacuole using CRISPR/Cpf1 and BioID2, revealing its critical function in vacuole organization.

Contacting domains that segregate lipid from solute transporters in malaria parasites

The paper identifies membrane contact sites between the parasitophorous vacuolar membrane and parasite plasma membrane in malaria parasites, showing distinct localization of nutrient and lipid transporters.

Plasmodium falciparum Niemann-Pick Type C1-Related Protein is a Druggable Target Required for Parasite Membrane Homeostasis

This study identifies PfNCR1 as a critical protein for Plasmodium falciparum membrane homeostasis and shows it is a potential druggable target for antimalarial drugs.