Phage display: a useful tool for malaria research?

Defining the molecular intricacies of malaria pathogenesis is a vital area of medical and scientific research. Sophisticated methods have been developed to identify and characterise host–parasite interactions that are important in infection. Phage display involves the combinatorial display of proteins or peptides on the surface of bacteriophage. The technology provides an invaluable tool for screening diverse libraries for polypeptides that have a high affinity for a given target. Phage display in malaria research has proven successful, not only in mapping the protein–protein interactions that are important in Plasmodium biology, but also in the identification of molecules that might be exploited in the design of therapeutic agents or vaccines.