However, recent data from other CHMI studies show that, unlike P. falciparum, blood-stage P. vivax activates cytotoxic CD38+ CD8+ T cells that could target parasites residing within MHC class I–expressing reticulocytes (52), suggesting that it may be possible for effector T cells to play a more direct role against this species of human malaria parasite. This evidence concerns the gene CD8A and malaria.