Malaria parasite and vector genomes: partners in crime

The publication of the genome sequences of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum and the insect vector Anopheles gambiae paves the way for scientists to study these organisms by using technologies developed to observe global changes in transcription and translation, as well as computational tools. Researchers are now able to investigate complex changes involved in development, growth and reaction to external factors. Given the medical importance of these organisms, much of this work is targeted on drug or insecticide discovery (including mechanisms of resistance to existing treatments), but the genome information also provides the opportunity to develop novel therapies.