The researchers have demonstrated that malaria infection causes permanent damage to resident CD163 macrophages in the spleen, which are responsible for cleaning the blood, recycling iron and communicating with other cells involved in the body’s immune response. Malaria infection causes lasting damage to macrophage populationIn a joint study together with Dr. Lynette Beattie’s working group at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne, Mass’s group investigated the long-term impact of malaria infection on resident macrophages in the spleen. This is a problem because CD163 macrophages also control parts of the immune response in addition to their scavenging role. If the CD163 macrophages are depleted, a malaria infection will be more severe, releasing more malaria-causing parasites into the bloodstream and making anemia last longer. Findings can be applied to human beingsGiven that CD163 macrophages are also present in our own spleen, the researchers believe that malaria causes a permanent change in the human macrophage architecture too.