Fig. 8.

The anti-colon cancer mechanisms of Plasmodium infection in vivo. In the murine colon cancer model, Plasmodium infection inhibits the proliferation of tumor cells and induces mitochondrial apoptosis. Furthermore, Plasmodium infection disturbs mitochondrial biogenesis, leading to the inhibition of proliferation and the promotion of apoptosis. Mitophagy is inhibited by Plasmodium infection, contributing to mitochondrial dysfunction. Plasmodium infection inhibits the growth of tumors to exert the tumor suppression function