Malaria Invasion™ 2.1

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @Drexel_IMMID, #IMMID, #MalariaInvasion

Visit our website: drexel.edu/medicine/immid-cbpd

Purpose:

• Malaria Invasion is the second educational mobile game in a series developed by the Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease at Drexel University College of Medicine. The game aims to familiarize players with the intricate world of infectious diseases and follows the success of its predecessor, CD4 Hunter™. Intended primarily as a supplemental learning tool for higher education, these games expertly merge scientific concepts with captivating gameplay mechanics.

Game Features:

• Malaria Invasion is a 3-level game where players assume the role of Plasmodium, the malaria parasite, during the blood-stage of infection. Players embody a Plasmodium merozoite, emerging in the bloodstream of a host previously bitten by an infected mosquito. Through a blend of authentic science, visually appealing graphics, and straightforward gameplay, each level educates players on key facets of merozoite invasion into Red Blood Cells (RBCs) while circumventing immune responses:

• Level 1 - Circulation: Identify and infect numerous RBCs while avoiding detection by the immune system.
• Level 2 - Attachment: Attach merozoite-specific proteins to their corresponding receptors on RBCs to initiate the invasion process by increasing intracellular calcium levels.
• Level 3 - Invasion: Create tight junctions that enable actin-myosin motor engagement to push the merozoite into the RBC.

Learning Goals:

1. Detail the role of Plasmodium merozoites in advancing blood-stage malaria infection.
2. Recognize RBCs and their distinct surface receptors as targets for merozoites during the post-hepatic phase of Plasmodium replication.
3. Delineate vital Plasmodium organelles involved in RBC invasion and define their secreted protein ligands' roles in facilitating invasion.
4. Explain the significance of essential ligand-receptor pairs in RBC invasion by Plasmodium.
5. Correlate immune system evasion with malaria infection progression during the blood stage of Plasmodium replication.
6. Identify critical metabolic and structural changes during Plasmodium merozoite invasion of RBCs.

Credits:

• Malaria Invasion was created by faculty members from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Drexel University College of Medicine: Mary Ann Comunale, EdD, MS; Sandra Urdaneta-Hartmann, MD, Ph.D., MBA; along with undergraduate Game Design student at Drexel University, John Harvey. Art direction for Plasmo® was provided by Andrew Bishop, Animation and Visual Effects student at Drexel University.
• Distinguished faculty members such as Lawrence Bergman, Ph.D.; James Burns, Ph.D.; Akhil Vaidya, Ph.D., also from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology lent their expertise on malaria to this project.
• Brian Wigdahl, Ph.D., Chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Executive Director of the Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease served as the Executive Producer for Malaria Invasion.
• This project was funded by the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, with additional support from Drexel University’s Office of the Provost and the Steinbright Career Development Center.