Preferential invasion by Plasmodium merozoites and the self-regulation of parasite burden.

ABSTRACT: The preferential invasion of particular red blood cell (RBC) age classes may offer a mechanism by which certain species of Plasmodia regulate their population growth. Asexual reproduction of the parasite within RBCs exponentially increases the number of circulating parasites; limiting this explosion in parasite density may be key to providing sufficient time for the parasite to reproduce, and for the host to develop a specific immune response. It is critical that the role of preferential invasion in infection is properly understood to model the within-host dynamics of different Plasmodia species. We develop a simulation model to show that limiting the range of RBC age classes available for invasion is a credible mechanism for restricting parasite density, one which is equally as important

SUBMITTER: Kerlin DH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3584029 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature