Restructured Mitochondrial-Nuclear Interaction in Plasmodium falciparum Dormancy and Persister Survival after Artemisinin Exposure

Abstract

The major first-line treatment for malaria, especially the deadliest form caused by Plasmodium falciparum , is combination therapy with an artemisinin-based drug (ART) plus a partner drug to assure complete cure. Without an effective partner drug, ART administration alone can fail because of the ability of small populations of blood-stage malaria parasites to enter into a dormant state and survive repeated treatments for a week or more.