The study is based on the application of RNA interference technology (RNAi technology), which allows the repression of specific genes, and in the use of fluorescence microscopy to monitor the effect of the gene repression on the liver stage of malaria infection.

The study was developed by Miguel Prud ncio, Cristina Rodrigues and colleagues at the IMM Malaria Unit, directed by Maria Mota. Part of the study was conducted at the biotech company Cenyx (Dresden, Germany), a worldwide leader in RNAi technology.

The large scale screening focused on genes involved in signaling pathways (which allow cells to receive, and respond to, external stimuli), and led to the identification of at least 5 proteins whose inhibition causes reduction of malaria infection at the liver stage. The liver stage of malaria infection is the initial step of host invasion by the malaria parasite and is determinant to the replication of the parasite, preceding the appearance of the symptoms of the disease.

"The idea now is to unravel how these host proteins influence the malaria infection, to understand in which molecular mechanisms they participate", says Miguel Prudencio.  "The screening is, in itself, an important step in malaria research , but is also the beginning of further research", says Cristina D. Rodrigues. The characterization of the molecular mechanisms of infection in which the proteins now identified participate is presently one of the research lines of IMM Malaria Unit.

The present study highlights the competitiveness of the IMM Malaria Unit, which has been able to attract important international funding. "This study was possible only with the substantial funding of the European Science Foundation, which contributed substantially to the funding of our research team through the EURY programme", says Maria Mota. "This publication is the result of an enormous research and financial effort from our laboratory", continues Maria Mota.

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Nov. 6, 1998: Publication in the journal Science of the seminal paper announcing the first successful derivation and sustained culturing of human embryonic stem cells. Sept. 14, 1999: The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation establishes WiCell as a clearinghouse to distribute stem cells and foster research. Aug. 9, 2001: President Bush announces his decision to limit federal funding for embryonic stem cell research to cell lines in existence at that point in time. Sept. 4, 2001: A team of Wisconsin scientists led by Dan Kaufman announces it has coaxed stem cells to become blood cells. Nov. 30, 2001: Neural progenitor cells, stem cells that have migrated part way down the developmental pathway to becoming specific types of brain cells, are created and implanted in mice where the cells further develop into functioning neurons. The work was conducted in the laboratory of UW-Madison stem cell scientist Su-Chun Zhang at the Waisman Center. Feb. 10, 2003: Wisconsin scientists James Thomson and Thomas Zwaka report the ability to manipulate genes in human stem cells, a technique critical to studying gene function and creating cells to mimic disease in the lab dish. June 26, 2003: Embryonic stem cells are coaxed to become heart muscle cells by a team led by UW-Madison cardiologist Timothy Kamp. Nov. 2, 2004: California voters approve Proposition 71, which authorizes the state to spend $3 billion over ten years on embryonic stem cell research. Nov. 20, 2004: Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle announces that Wisconsin will invest up to $750 million over several years in biomedical research, including new building initiatives and direct support for research. The announcement is the catalyst for the development of the public-private Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery. Jan. 31, 2005: Wisconsin scientist Su-Chun Zhang creates the first spinal motor neurons. Oct. 3, 2005: The National Institutes of Health names WiCell as the nation's first National Stem Cell Bank. Jan. 1, 2006: WiCell researchers announce the development of stem cell culture media free of animal products, a development necessary to culture cells for therapy in humans. May 17, 2007: UW-Madison establishes the Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center. June 20, 2007: For the second time, President Bush vetoes legislation that would expand federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research. Nov. 20, 2007: Two teams of researchers, including a Wisconsin team led by James Thomson and Junying Yu, show that skin cells can be genetically reprogrammed to behave like embryonic stem cells.

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