James Gillett1294527Plasmodium FalciparumPlasmodium Falciparum is the causative parasite of malignant malaria, it is the deadliest strain of the malaria virus. P. Falciparum is a eukaryotic protozoan parasite that spreads through vectorial transmission via mosquitoes. The Anopheles family of mosquitoes accounts for the majority of transmission cases due to their tendency to affect humans (WHO, 2014). Malaria causes approximately five hundred thousand deaths every year in environments such as sub-Saharan Africa and other temperate areas where the life cycle of the mosquito is longer allowing the parasite to develop adequately (WHO, 2014). Malaria usually infects children in these areas, but is also commonly spread to travelers to these areas. P.Falciparum has a complicated life cycle in which it must grow in both a mosquito host and a human host. While in the mosquito the parasite lives in the sporozite stage and is injected into the human host through mosquito bites (Granham, 1966). The parasite then travels to the liver through the bloodstream and begins to infect liver cells. By shedding their apical surface coat, sporozites recognize sugar antigens and enter hepatocytes (liver cells) and become trophozites, which continue to replicate within the hepatocytes (Florens, 2002). Once this replication is complete and the parasite has matured into a merozoite, it is able to leave the hepatocyte and return to the bloodstream. These cells are now no longer able to infect hepatocytes and once released into the bloodstream they will infect erythrocytes. By hiding in the liver and blood cells, the parasite is able to replicate without being attacked by the body's immune system. P. Falciparum is capable of attaching to an erythro...... middle of paper ...... 520. Available from: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v419/n6906/full / nature01107.html [Accessed 24 March 2014].Mauritz J, Esposito A, Ginsburg H, Kaminski C, Tiffert T, Lew V. Red blood cell homeostasis infected with Plasmodium falciparum. 2009; 5(4): e1000339. Available from: http://www.ploscompbiol.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pcbi.1000339 [Accessed 24 March 2014]. Watson R. Malaria Parasites and Other Haemosporidia by PCC Garnham, CMG, MD , D. Sc., FRS, Professor of Medical Protozoology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London. xviii+ 1,114 pages, illustrated. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford. 1966. $35. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 1967; 16 (4): 561--563.Chi.int. WHO | Malaria. [Online] Available from: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs094/en/ [Accessed 24 March 2014].