This paradox was further investigated in HepaRG cells that express AQP9. P. berghei infection of these cells was markedly decreased by AQP9 RNA silencing (Supplementary Figures 11A, B), which suggests that this parasite uses AQP9-dependent pathways to invade human liver cells naturally expressing AQP9 but is able to use alternative pathways in hepatoma cells that do not express AQP9 (see Table 1). The gene discussed is AQP9; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.