Abstract:
Plasmodium falciparum remains the deadliest parasite species in the world, responsible for
229 million cases of human malaria in 2019. The ability of the P. falciparum parasite to
progress through multiple life cycle stages and thrive in diverse host and vector species
hinges on sophisticated mechanisms of epigenetic regulation of gene expression.
Emerging evidence indicates such epigenetic control exists in concentric layers,
revolving around core histone post-translational modification (PTM) landscapes. Here,
we provide a necessary update of recent epigenome research in malaria parasites,
focusing specifically on the ability of dynamic histone PTM landscapes to orchestrate
the divergent development and differentiation pathways in P. falciparum parasites. In
addition to individual histone PTMs, we discuss recent findings that imply functional
importance for combinatorial PTMs in P. falciparum parasites, representing an operational
histone code. Finally, this review highlights the remaining gaps and provides strategies to
address these to obtain a more thorough understanding of the histone modification
landscapes that are at the center of epigenetic regulation in human malaria parasites.
