Malaria functional genomics

Artemisinin is used here as an example of a plant sesquiterpenoid with both traditional value as well as with medicinal and social value in the twenty-first century. Research on artemisinin has also established new benchmarks for biochemical engineering and functional genomics of plant terpenoids. Artemisinin is a functionalized sesquiterpene with a unique peroxide linkage from the sweet wormwood Artemisia annua). Chinese herbalists have used it since ancient times, and it is now used for its unique efficacy to treat multidrug-resistant strains of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Its medicinal importance has prompted studies into its biosynthesis and its biochemical engineering so that cost-effective methods for producing it in large scale and in consistent quality may be realized. 

Ginsburg, H. (2006). Progress in in silico functional genomics the malaria Metabolic Pathways database. Trends Parasitol. 22,238-240. 

Sharma, Y. D. (1988). Genomic organization, structure and possible function of histidine-rich proteins of malaria parasites. Int. J. Biochem. 20,471-477. 

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