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Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a red blood cell (centre) infected with Plasmodium falciparum, the cause of malaria. The parasite has created 'knobs' (nanoscale protusions) on the surface of the host's red blood cell. This prevents P.falciparum from being destroyed and also causes inflammation. (KEYSTONE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Rick Fairhurst and Jordan Zuspann, NIAID/NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY)