I am working on a protein homologue of a mammalian protein called Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) that is expressed by the malaria parasite. This protein is a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine. MIF enhances expression of inflammatory cytokines and also downregulates the anti-inflammatory response mediated by glucocorticoids. The parasite encoded protein may be important in the continued activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, especially TNF-alpha, which is elevated in cerebral malaria. We are interested in determining if the parasite MIF has a functional role in the pathogenesis of malaria. To study this, we are using the Plasmodium yoelii rodent malaria model.