Researchers have revealed that malaria parasites invade red blood cells using a different mechanism than believed for decades, after successfully observing the ring-shaped protein structure known as the 'moving junction' within less than 60 seconds—its lifespan before disassembly.

According to a study published in Cell Reports Medicine, the team managed to stop Plasmodium falciparum parasites while they were invading a cell, then extracted the intact protein complex, froze it, and examined it with high-resolution microscopes. They discovered that the junction does not act as a passive entry point as previously thought, but rather punctures the host cell membrane and reshapes it to facilitate parasite entry.

Study leader Chi Min Ho said that extracting this structure directly from the parasites allowed understanding of its mechanism for the first time. Researcher Daphne Kashiras explained that seeing the structure in its true state enabled the team to design an experimental protein that prevents parasite entry, providing evidence for the possibility of developing a new class of antimalarial drugs.