Shortt and Garnham (1948) are associated with the Life cycle of malarial parasite.

The Life Cycle of Malarial Parasite:

The life cycle of the malarial parasite involves complex interactions between the parasite, the mosquito vector, and the human host. Shortt and Garnham (1948) made significant contributions to our understanding of this life cycle.

1. Infection Stage:
- The life cycle of the malarial parasite begins when an infected female Anopheles mosquito bites a human and injects sporozoites, which are the infective stage of the parasite, into the bloodstream.
- The sporozoites travel to the liver and invade hepatocytes (liver cells), where they undergo asexual reproduction to form thousands of merozoites.

2. Liver Stage:
- The merozoites are released from the liver cells and enter the bloodstream, where they infect red blood cells (RBCs).
- Inside the RBCs, the merozoites undergo further asexual reproduction, leading to the destruction of the RBCs and the release of more merozoites into the bloodstream.
- This cycle of RBC invasion, asexual reproduction, and RBC destruction continues, causing the characteristic fevers and symptoms of malaria.

3. Gametocyte Stage:
- Some of the merozoites differentiate into sexual forms called gametocytes, which can be taken up by another mosquito when it feeds on an infected human.
- Inside the mosquito, the gametocytes transform into male and female gametes, which fuse to form a zygote.

4. Mosquito Stage:
- The zygote develops into an ookinete, which penetrates the mosquito's midgut wall and forms an oocyst.
- Inside the oocyst, the parasite undergoes further development and multiplication, eventually releasing thousands of sporozoites.

5. Transmission Stage:
- The sporozoites migrate to the mosquito's salivary glands, ready to be injected into a human during the mosquito's next blood meal.
- This completes the life cycle, as the sporozoites can then infect a new human host.

Significance of Shortt and Garnham's Research:
- Shortt and Garnham's research in 1948 provided crucial insights into the life cycle of the malarial parasite.
- Their work helped clarify the stages and processes involved in the transmission of the parasite between humans and mosquitoes.
- Understanding the life cycle of the malarial parasite is essential for developing effective strategies to prevent and control malaria, a disease that affects millions of people worldwide.