Experts have disabled a unique member of the signalling proteins which are essential for the development of the malaria parasite.

They have produced a mutant lacking the ancient bacterial Shewanella-like protein phosphatase known as SHLP1 (pronounced 'shelph').

This mutant is unable to complete its complex life cycle and is arrested in its development in the mosquito. The discovery could help in the design of new drugs to arrest the spread of this killer disease.

The findings of their latest study are published on 21^st February 2013, in the journal Cell Reports. (: 10.1016/j.celrep.2013.01.032 )

Link: www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/pressreleases/2013/february/malaria-on-the-shelph.aspx