Résumé
Upon invasion of mature erythrocytes, the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum establishes itself inside a self-induced parasitophorous vacuole, which forms a selective barrier between the parasite surface and its host cell cytosol and creates a very special biological niche for the parasite. To have access to nutrients and escape the host defences, the parasite extensively modifies this parasitophorous vacuole, eventually transforming it into a transit compartment for parasite proteins exported to the host cell and responsible for functional and structural alterations of the mature erythrocyte. One of the major modifications is the transposition of a cisternae-like compartment, named the Maurer’s clefts, which plays the role of a marshal platform for parasite proteins exported to the host cell. Here we shall review what is known about the biogenesis and dynamics of the parasitophorous vacuole and Maurer’s clefts and explore how molecular chaperones and co-chaperones could be key factors in the dynamics of these compartments and in the remodelling of the erythrocyte, necessary for the parasite growth, multiplication and survival.