Merozoite release from Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes involves the transfer of DiIC₁₆ from infected cell membrane to Maurer's clefts.

ABSTRACT: Merozoite release from infected erythrocytes is a complex process, which is still not fully understood. Such process was characterised at ultra-structural level in this work by labelling erythrocyte membrane with a fluorescent lipid probe and subsequent photo-conversion into an electron-dense precipitate. A lipophilic DiIC(16) probe was inserted into the infected erythrocyte surface and the transport of this phospholipid analogue through the erythrocyte membrane was followed up during 48 h of the asexual erythrocyte cycle. The lipid probe was transferred from infected erythrocyte membranes to Maurer's clefts during merozoite release, thereby indicating that these membranes remained inside host cells after parasite release. Fluorescent structures were never observed inside infected erythroc

SUBMITTER: Cortes GT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3160561 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature