The fast-evolving FIKK kinase family of Plasmodium falciparum can be inhibited by a single compound

Of 250 Plasmodium species, 6 infect humans, with P. falciparum causing over 95% of 600,000 annual malaria-related deaths. Its pathology arises from host cell remodelling driven by over 400 exported parasite proteins, including the FIKK kinase family. About one million years ago, a bird-infecting Plasmodium species crossed into great apes and a single non-exported FIKK kinase gained an export element. This led to a rapid expansion into 15–21 atypical, exported Ser/Thr effector kinases.

Belda, H., Bradley, D., Christodoulou, E. et al. The fast-evolving FIKK kinase family of Plasmodium falciparum can be inhibited by a single compound. Nat Microbiol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-025-02017-4

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