Antibody immunotherapy and single cell transcriptomics technology support malaria therapeutic role of drug target discovery and development from haemoglobin degradation pathway

Successes from malaria case detection enhance prompt and effective treatment using anti-malarials. Host-malaria parasite immune responses is complex, involving interplay of factors and components of host and parasite. Haemozoin malaria pigments are formed from haemoglobin (Hb) degradative metabolism by Plasmodium parasite in the body, while pigment containing leucocytes (PCL) is one of the evidences from host immunological response. Development of antimalarial drugs has faced challenges by parasite’s evasive strategies. Drugs developed from Hb degradation pathway do face drug resistance challenge. Here, we critically examined and present how antibodies (mAbs and Nanobodies), and single cell transcriptomics technology have been alternative support routes to drug discovery with checks against drug resistance challenge. In a constructive analytical deep review with data, past literature was examined with evidences for qualities of antibodies based drug discovery (nanobody Nb and monoclonal antibody mAb), and transciptomics technology and their clinical trials. Ab based mAb antimalarial drugs have attributes for long lasting protection (such as CIS43LS) with reduced risk of resistance to the antimalarials by parasite. We retrieved over 5 mAbs on studies as candidate antimalarials or already approved on clinical. Three scRNAseq aided drug candidates were mined. Three enzyme protein drug targets identified by computational and bioinformatics analysis of transcriptomics datasets where mined one of which is heavily validated. Drug target discovery from metabolic pathway analysis like Hb degradation pathway, stem from understanding of host-parasite interactions and followed up with development of potent inhibitors. It can be supported by drug discovery routes of immunotherapy and transcriptomics