Food Vacuole as a Drug Target

During the intraerythrocytic stage, the parasite multiplies and utilizes 60–80% of the hemoglobin within 24 h. The parasite moves through various stages, including the trophozoite stage, which is its most active stage. Following this stage, the schizont stage occurs, where merozoites are formed and released to initiate the infection cycle again. The parasite consumes a significant amount of hemoglobin during the trophozoite stage, which is present in red blood cells. This process takes place in a specialized acidic compartment known as the digesting vacuole or feeding vacuole. Internalization and uptake are critical for parasite development and survival in the host. Because the parasite lacks the ability to synthesize new amino acids, it attempts to deprive itself of amino acids through hemoglobin proteolysis. In an acidic pH 4.5–5.5, lysosome-like organelle known as the digestive/food vacuole, hemoglobin is destroyed progressively by a variety of proteases such as aspartic proteases, cysteine proteases, metalloproteases, and aminopeptidases. As a result, the parasite uses hemoglobin as a supply of amino acids. In this chapter, we will go over the vital role of the food vacuole and how hemoglobin absorption is an excellent target and might be used for antimalarial therapy.