Indian Scientists Help Identify Key Protein That Halts Malaria Parasite Growth

At a time when malaria continues to pose a significant public health challenge in India, scientists have identified a crucial protein that is essential for the survival and spread of the malaria parasite—a finding that could open the door to a new generation of targeted anti-malarial drugs.

In a study published in Nature Communications, an international team of researchers, including scientists from the National Institute of Immunology (NII) in India, has discovered that a protein known as Aurora-related kinase 1 (ARK1) plays a central role in the growth and division of the malaria parasite.

The study involved collaboration with the University of Nottingham, the University of Groningen, and the Francis Crick Institute.

Malaria, caused by Plasmodium parasites and transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes, remains endemic in several parts of India despite significant progress in control efforts. The disease is marked by cycles of fever and can turn fatal if not treated promptly. Although India has reduced malaria cases substantially over the past decade, experts caution that drug resistance and changing transmission patterns demand continued scientific innovation.

The newly identified protein, ARK1, appears to function as a “traffic controller” during the parasite’s unusual process of cell division. Unlike human cells, which divide in a highly regulated and predictable manner, the malaria parasite multiplies in a distinctive and complex way, both inside the human host and within the mosquito.

The researchers found that ARK1 is responsible for organizing a structure known as the spindle—the cellular machinery that separates genetic material during cell division. Proper spindle formation is essential for producing new parasites.

When scientists experimentally switched off ARK1 in laboratory models, the effects were dramatic. The parasite failed to form functional spindles, leading to defective cell division and halted growth. Importantly, parasites lacking ARK1 were unable to complete their life cycle in either the human host or the mosquito, effectively blocking transmission.

Dr. Ryuji Yanase, first author of the study from the School of Life Sciences at the University of Nottingham, said the name “Aurora”—derived from the Roman goddess of dawn—symbolizes a new beginning in understanding malaria cell biology.

Indian researchers Annu Nagar and Dr. Pushkar Sharma from the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council–National Institute of Immunology (BRIC-NII), New Delhi, highlighted the importance of studying the parasite in both its human and mosquito stages. They noted that the parasite divides through distinct processes in the two hosts, and examining ARK1’s role in both environments was critical to uncovering new aspects of its biology.

A particularly promising aspect of the discovery lies in the structural differences between the parasite’s ARK1 and similar proteins found in human cells. Professor Tewari, a senior author of the study, observed that the malaria parasite’s Aurora complex is markedly different from the human version. This divergence offers a potential therapeutic advantage: drugs could be designed to specifically target the parasite’s ARK1 without affecting human cells, thereby minimizing side effects.

For India, where malaria remains a concern in certain states and tribal regions, such advances are especially relevant. The Government has committed to eliminating malaria in the coming years, but emerging resistance to existing drugs and insecticides continues to challenge control strategies. Identifying new molecular targets is, therefore, essential to stay ahead of the parasite.

The study provides what researchers describe as a “blueprint” of the parasite’s unconventional molecular machinery. By mapping how ARK1 coordinates cell division, scientists have laid the groundwork for future drug discovery efforts aimed not merely at treating symptoms, but at interrupting the parasite’s life cycle and preventing transmission.

While further research and clinical validation will be required before ARK1-targeted therapies reach patients, the scientists said that the findings represent a significant step forward in the long battle against malaria.