While RNAi-based CTL4 gene silencing resulted in melanization of some parasites but not in a decrease of infection intensity and prevalence, the more extensive melanization and statistically significant reduction in viable human P. falciparum parasites in CTL4nullcorroborates the assertion that the gene silencing will most often yield a hypomorphic phenotype because of an incomplete depletion of target proteins [20]. This evidence concerns the gene SLC44A4 and infection.