This paper analyzes data recently published in Nature Medicine which demonstrated that the common antibiotic, triclosan, inhibits the growth of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum (Surolia and Surolia 2001). Triclosan specifically acts by inhibiting the product of the FabI gene, the enoyl-ACP reductase, which is an essential component of type II fatty acid synthesis (Surolia and Surolia 2001). Information on malaria's impact and its biology will also be presented. In order to understand the results, background information about type II fatty acid synthesis, the function of the enoyl-ACP reductase in this metabolic process, and triclosan will also be introduced. Finally, this paper will discuss the major conclusions of Surolia and Surolia (2001) and the implications of their results for malaria treatment.

• Introduction
• Malaria Background
• Type II Fatty Acid Synthesis in Malaria Parasite
• Triclosan
• New Discovery: Triclosan Inhibits the Growth of the Malaria Parasite
• Major Conclusions and Unanswered Questions
• References