Malaria is a deadly infectious disease caused by the Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) parasite. In humans, the symptoms of the disease occur when the parasites invade and replicate within the host red blood cell (RBC). Previously it was shown that using extracellular vesicles (EVs), Pf inhibits the synthesis of the host chemokine CXCL10 in monocytes by disrupting the association of host ribosomes with CXCL10 transcripts. CXCL10 (also known as IP-10) is a small (~10KDa) secreted protein, a key mediator in recruiting the immune response under inflammatory conditions. Here, remarkably we found that CXCL10 itself promotes malaria parasite growth in the presence of different concentrations of CXCL10, Pf accelerates its own growth. Next, using immunofluorescence assays we found high concentrations of CXCL10 protein within the parasitic cell, suggesting its internalization by the parasite. We are now investigating this sensing mechanism by developing an imaging approach to monitor the intracellular localization of CXCL10 within the Pf-infected RBC Initially, CXCL10 will be tagged with a small organic fluorophore, TAMRA, for high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy observation. This approach potentially will shed light on the unique communication between the Pf parasite and the human host.

Malaria is a deadly infectious disease caused by the _Plasmodium falciparum_ (_Pf_) parasite. In humans, the symptoms of the disease occur when the parasites invade and replicate within the host red blood cell (RBC). Previously it was shown that using extracellular vesicles (EVs), _Pf_ inhibits the synthesis of the host chemokine CXCL10 in monocytes by disrupting the association of host ribosomes with CXCL10 transcripts. CXCL10 (also known as IP-10) is a small (~10KDa) secreted protein, a key mediator in recruiting the immune response under inflammatory conditions. Here, remarkably we found that CXCL10 itself promotes malaria parasite growth in the presence of different concentrations of CXCL10, _Pf_ accelerates its own growth. Next, using immunofluorescence assays we found high concentrations of CXCL10 protein within the parasitic cell, suggesting its internalization by the parasite. We are now investigating this sensing mechanism by developing an imaging approach to monitor the intracellular localization of CXCL10 within the _Pf_-infected RBC Initially, CXCL10 will be tagged with a small organic fluorophore, TAMRA, for high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy observation. This approach potentially will shed light on the unique communication between the _Pf_ parasite and the human host.

Communication crosstalk between the host CXCL10 chemokine and the malaria parasite

Exploring the intricacies of host-pathogen communication is vital in order to understand why
some microbes persist within a host, while others are effectively cleared. As such,
host-pathogen communication is an urgent area of research underpinning human health
and disease, especially given the emerging concerns of antibiotic resistance.
Understanding host-pathogen pathways requires intricate knowledge in the fields of both
microbiology and immunology.

Living in a world of specialists, where scientists sometimes invest their whole career
studying one organism, a specific pathway or a protein, multidisciplinary discussions of
host-pathogen interactions are highly needed. This international conference will provide
such a forum for scientific exchange at the highest level, between scientists from different
research areas related to host-pathogen interactions, with the aim to trigger fruitful
collaborations addressing the urgent questions in the field.

This meeting has an additional special focus of bringing researchers from Ireland, Denmark
and Israel together to learn about cutting edge biology and form new collaborations.
Thus, the conference will be a showcase for the exciting and original research emanating
from these three small but innovative countries.