Illustration of the second phase of malaria transmission from one organism to another. The parasites (merozoites) move through blood vessels to the lungs where immune surveillance is lower and blood flow slower. They break out of their envelope (made by the liver). They penetrate red blood cells, ultra rapid transporters that allow them to avoid the filtering spleen. They proliferate in their shelter until, after 48h, they blow up the cell membrane, spread through the blood and quickly parasite other red blood cells to proliferate once more. An immune reaction starts up and the infected person has a high temperature. After a few cycles, the person is tired as the red blood cells no longer carry enough oxygen. Cell residue stuck to blood vessel lining risks blocking the vessels and producing a coma, or even killing the infected person. With each cycle, some merozoites change into asexual male or female gametes who cling to the lining of blood vessels close to the skin and wait for the rainy season to penetrate the stomach of a new mosquito that will bite the infected person. The gamete merozoites reproduce in the mosquito's stomach producing new sporozoites that are then transmitted to a new human organism by the mosquito's saliva when it bites.
