Final answer:
Plasmodium falciparum infects liver cells and red blood cells in humans, causing malaria. It's transmitted by Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes and leads to significant health impacts including anemia and fever.
Step-by-step explanation:
The organism Plasmodium falciparum causes malaria and has a complex life cycle involving two different hosts: humans and mosquitoes. In humans, Plasmodium falciparum infects and grows inside liver cells and red blood cells. The initial liver stage is known as the exoerythrocytic stage, while the subsequent infection of red blood cells is referred to as the erythrocytic stage. During this stage, Plasmodium falciparum causes the red blood cells to burst, leading to symptoms such as fever, joint pain, anemia, and fatigue. The parasite is transmitted by the bite of infected female Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes, making malaria one of the many arthropod-borne infectious diseases. Malaria can cause significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in tropical regions where P. falciparum is most prevalent.