**22. Cellular and molecular biology of** *Plasmodium*

Members of the genus *Plasmodium* are eukaryotic microbes. Therefore, the cell and molecular biology of *Plasmodium* will be similar to other eukaryotes. A unique feature of the malaria parasite is its intracellular lifestyle. Because of its intracellular location the parasite has an intimate relationship with its host cell which can be described at the cellular and molecular levels. In particular, the parasite must enter the host cell, and once inside, it modifies the host cell. The molecular and cellular biology of host-parasite interactions involved in these two processes will be discussed.
