Malaria-causing parasite manipulates liver cells to survive

Before invading the bloodstream, the malaria-causing Plasmodium parasite rapidly reproduces inside its host's liver cells. Researchers show that liver-stage Plasmodium relies on a host protein called aquaporin-3 to survive and copy itself. Inhibiting the function of aquaporin-3 may provide a new way to keep Plasmodium from proliferating and prevent malaria before symptoms start.