Overview

• Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals P. falciparum parasites can co-express multiple var genes or enter a stealthy 'null' state with no var gene expression.
• The var-null state allows the parasite to evade immune detection by suppressing surface antigen production, challenging long-held assumptions about its biology.
• Researchers propose that stealth parasites may hide in anatomical niches like bone marrow or splenic red cell pools, avoiding spleen filtration and immune clearance.
• The findings suggest asymptomatic carriers in endemic regions serve as hidden reservoirs for malaria transmission, complicating eradication efforts.
• Ongoing field studies in West Africa aim to locate these hidden reservoirs, informing the development of new therapies and multi-epitope vaccines.