A genetic identity card for Plasmodium populations to improve control strategies
October 2007
World Health Organization (WHO) figures show that each year more than 1 million people die as a result of malaria. The idea of eradicating completely this ravaging disease is becoming increasingly illusive, nevertheless the control of Plasmodium falciparum populations is a promising research avenue for limiting its spread. With that approach in mind, a joint IRD-CNRS team investigated the parasite’s population genetic structure in the diploid phase of its life cycle (1).
