Time for killing: do malaria parasites have a (circadian) clock?

Summary

Malaria parasites have a complex lifecycle involving a mosquito and a human host. Several observations suggest that they synchronise their development with the daily rhythm of the hosts, yet there is no evidence for a circadian clock being operational in the parasite. This project aims to detect oscillating molecular signatures indicative of a circadian clock, an essential starting point to understand how such clock function. Furthermore, we will test the effect of a ‘jetlag’ on spreading of the disease. These initial insights could transform our understanding about the biology of malaria parasite and advise strategies to combat a deadly disease.