Are Plasmodium heterotrophic or autotrophic?
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4 min read
According to research, the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium dramatically increases its host cell's glucose consumption by up to 100-fold during the most metabolically active stages. This behavior answers the question: Are Plasmodium heterotrophic or autotrophic? Plasmodium is not an autotroph but an obligate heterotrophic parasite that must steal nutrients from its host to survive.
