Which protist pathogen is known to cause malaria?

Plasmodium sp. is the protist pathogen responsible for malaria. This genus includes several species, such as Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae, which are transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Once in the human body, Plasmodium sp. undergoes a complex life cycle that involves both the liver and red blood cells, leading to the symptoms associated with malaria, such as fever, chills, and anemia. The importance of understanding this pathogen lies in the significant health impact malaria has globally, prompting extensive research into prevention, treatment, and control measures.

The other choices provided do not relate to malaria. Escherichia coli is a bacterium often associated with foodborne illness, Candida auris is a fungal pathogen that can cause severe infections, and Hepatitis A virus is a viral pathogen that affects the liver. Each of these pathogens has distinct characteristics and diseases associated with them, but they are not responsible for malaria.