Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum is the parasite responsible for the deadly disease, malaria. The parasite is transmitted through the injection of sporozoites into the human blood stream. These sporozoites are transported in the blood stream to the liver. The sporozoites invade the hepatocytes and differentiate into merozoites. The merozoites invade the RBCs of the host; starting the blood stage of infection. The trophozoite stage ingests and degrades approximately 80% of the hemoglobin in the host cell. The hemoglobin is broken down into peptides due to enzymatic action by a metalloprotease and cysteine and aspartic proteases. Haematin is first released as a byproduct of ...
