Inhibition of malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum development by crotamine, a cell penetrating peptide from the snake venom.

Schematic figure showing the preferential affinity of crotamine for P. falciparum infected erythrocytes, which may have increased negative charge exposure compared to the liquid net neutral surface of uninfected erythrocytes due to the extensive host cell remodeling mediated by parasites, for instance maure’s clefts, plasma membrane knobs complexes and TVN (tubovesicular network). The localization of crotamine in parasitophorous vacuole (PV), as well as in acidic digestive vacuole (DV) and nucleus are also indicated.