Plasmodium knowlesi is a zoonotic form of human malaria, the pathology of which is poorly understood. While the J domain protein (JDP) family has been extensively studied in Plasmodium falciparum, and shown to contribute to malaria pathology, there is currently very limited information on the P. knowlesi JDPs (PkJDPs). This review provides a critical analysis of the literature and publicly available data on PkJDPs. Interestingly, the P. knowlesi genome encodes at least 31 PkJDPs, with well over half belonging to the most diverse types which contain only the signature J domain (type IIIs, 19) or a corrupted version of the J domain (type IVs, 2) as evidence of their membership. The more typical PkJDPs containing other domains typical of JDPs in addition to the J domain are much fewer in number (type IIs, 8; type Is, 2). This study indentifies PkJDPs that are potentially involved in: folding of newly synthesized or misfolded proteins within the P. knowlesi cytosol (a canonical type I and certain typical type IIs); protein translocation (a type III) and folding (a type II) in the ER; and protein import into mitochondria (a type III). Interestingly, a type II PkJDP is potentially exported to the host cell cytosol where it may recruit human HSP70 for the trafficking and folding of other exported P. knowlesi proteins. Experimental studies are required on this fascinating family of proteins, not only to validate their role in the pathology of knowlesi malaria, but also because they represent potential anti-malarial drug targets.
