Platelets can target and kill the parasite that causes malaria as it grows inside red blood cells, but only if a specific molecule is present.

Scientists have found that a molecule on red blood cells called Duffy is essential for platelet-mediated killing of the P. faciparum malaria parasite.

Almost all people (98-100%) living in the equatorial regions of Africa lack the Duffy molecule, which could explain why malaria is more common and more lethal in Africa.

The finding adds to the challenges of controlling malaria in Africa, where 91% of worldwide malaria deaths occurred in 2010.