Malaria infection and telomere length: A review

Oct 10, 2025Microbial pathogenesis

Malaria infection and its relationship to chromosome end length

AI simplified

Longevity & Aging on OpenScience ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Abstract

Malaria infection may drive rapid telomere degradation in immune cells.

Acute malaria infections promote accelerated cellular aging and suppress telomerase expression.
Telomere shortening is linked to long-term health impacts following malaria infection.
Prolonged exposure to malaria, especially in endemic regions, may increase susceptibility to age-related diseases.
Oxidative stress and inflammation are associated with telomere length reduction in the context of malaria.
Telomere length could serve as a potential biomarker for assessing malaria severity and treatment outcomes.

AI simplified

Telomere shortening is a key hallmark of cellular aging, and its association with various infectious diseases is well-documented. However, the role of telomere dynamics in malaria pathogenesis remains underexplored. In addition to its influence, malaria infection not only modulates signals within immune cells but also drives telomere shortening in these cells via diverse mechanisms, potentially leaving long-term imprints on human health. Acute malaria infections initiate rapid telomere degradation, promote accelerated cellular senescence, and suppress telomerase expression with possible partial recovery as the parasite clears during treatment. Conversely, prolonged exposure to Plasmodium infection, prevalent among individuals residing in highly endemic regions like Africa, is often aggravated by coexisting infections, potentially exacerbating malaria pathogenesis, accelerating telomere length shortening, and increasing susceptibility to age-related ailments. Herein, we review recent findings into the effects of malaria on telomere attrition, shedding light on possible mechanisms and key factors contributing to this process. Additionally, we present an overview of how oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators contribute to telomere length shortening in malaria. Furthermore, we discuss the potential of telomere length as a biomarker for malaria severity and treatment outcomes.

Full Text

Full text is available at the source.

View full text (XML) ↗View full text ↗

Malaria infection and telomere length: A review

Abstract

Full Text

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the longevity & aging brief

Abstract

Full Text

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the longevity & aging brief