Michelle Wykes has been working on the pathogenesis of malaria for several years. Her research has shown how dendritic cell (DC) function is corrupted lethal malaria in a mouse model, by comparing 4 mouse parasite species. Further, she recently showed that this loss of DC function prevented the activation of memory B cells specific for the MSP1-19 vaccine. This paper was selected by the journal for a commentary. Her group has also shown that murine Plasmodium spp can survive and replicate within plasmacytoid DC. Their most recent research has now shown how Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) mediates loss of natural immunity against chronic malaria and memory of the infection.