Each life form has its own viruses. I am wondering if Plasmodium has specific viruses as well and which could be utilized as a measure to reduce Malaria infections? A virus which infects a parasite, which infects a vertebrate/mammal.
Are there viruses/phages/parasites known which use e. g. Plasmodium falciparum as a host?
Charon, J., Grigg, M.J., Eden, J.S., Piera, K.A., Rana, H., William, T., Rose, K., Davenport, M.P., Anstey, N.M. and Holmes, E.C., 2019. Novel RNA viruses associated with Plasmodium vivax in human malaria andLeucocytozoon parasites in avian disease. PLoS pathogens, 15(12), e1008216.Article Novel RNA viruses associated with Plasmodium vivax in human ...
tozoon parasites in avian disease. PLoS pathogens, 15(12), p.e1008216.
Yes, Plasmodium parasites, which cause malaria, have their own specific viruses known as Plasmodium vivax virus (PvCV) and Plasmodium yoelii virus (PyCV). These viruses are known as Plasmodium-specific endogenous retroviruses (PsERVs) and are found in the genome of the parasite. Studies have shown that these viruses can infect and kill Plasmodium parasites in the lab, suggesting that they may have potential as a control measure for reducing malaria infections
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