Glycolysis (Plasmodium falciparum)

Glycolysis is the primary metabolic pathway for ATP production in Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for the most severe form of human malaria. During its asexual blood stage, P. falciparum relies almost exclusively on glycolysis to meet its energy demands and to provide precursors for essential anabolic pathways. Upon infection, the glycolytic rate in red blood cells can increase up to 100-fold, contributing significantly to disease symptoms such as lactic acidosis and hypoglycemia. Glycolytic enzymes are attractive antimalarial targets because: The pathway is essential and highly active during blood stages. Some enzymes have structural or regulatory differences from human homologs. Inhibitors targeting glucose transport or key enzymes like PFK9 show promise experimentally. No current antimalarials directly target this pathway despite its centrality.

Inhibition of glycolytic enzymes or glucose transport