Using new models, such as the human liver-chimeric FRG KO huHep mouse (Mikolajczak et al., 2015; in which it is possible to study the liver stage, the formation and activation of hypnozoites and the blood stage of infection at the same time) might be useful for discovering the true role of HO-1 in Plasmodium infections and its importance in severe malaria, especially MA-ALI/ARDS. The gene discussed is HMOX1; the disease is malaria.