Plasmodia species, unlike humans, can utilize
p-aminobenzoic acid (
PABA) for the de novo generation of
folate. Plasmodial
enzymes for the synthesis of
PABA via the
shikimate pathway are being investigated as novel targets for
malaria chemotherapy. We show that, despite the presence of biosynthetic machinery to synthesize
PABA, Plasmodium yoelii, a rodent
malaria species, requires exogenous dietary
PABA for survival. Mice fed low-
PABA diets do not die from lethal doses of P. yoelii. The initiation of a
PABA-deficient diet after P. yoelii
infection is established leads to the clearance of parasites and subsequent resistance to
infection by P. yoelii. An intact immune system is not necessary for protection, given that mice with
severe combined immunodeficiency were also protected by
PABA-deficient diet. Our studies suggest that the
PABA content in the diet will affect the host clearance of
malaria parasites and may affect the efficacy of treatments that target the
shikimate pathway.