**6. Concluding remarks**

The energy metabolism of malaria parasites has been considerably elucidated with accumu‐ lating data from several "omics" analyses. These data suggest that enzymes of the mitochon‐ drial TCA cycle and mtETC could be attractive targets for development of antimalarial drugs. However, activity of these energy transduction pathways in the mitochondrion is considered to be very low in the erythrocytic stages of the parasite. To address these possibilities, bio‐ chemical assay data are required. However, rigorous biochemical analysis of the parasite mitochondrion, in which the TCA cycle and mtETC are present, is highly difficult because intact and pure mitochondria cannot be obtained from the parasites thus far. As a consequence, the malaria parasite mitochondrion needs to be purified to perform these future biochemical studies. Biochemical data regarding the *Plasmodium* mitochondrion would shed light on the details of mitochondrial enzyme behavior and help in the management of malaria.
