Molecular detection and quantification of Plasmodium falciparum-infected human hepatocytes in chimeric immune-deficient mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chimeric mice with humanized livers represent a promising tool for infections with Plasmodium falciparum to evaluate novel methods for prevention and treatment of pre-erythrocytic stages. Adequate assessment of hepatic infections is generally compromised by the limited number of human hepatocytes infected by developing parasites.

Methods

A qPCR-based method has been developed that sensitively and reliably detects P. falciparum liver stage infection of humanized mice and quantitatively expresses the results as the number of parasites per human hepatocyte.

Results

This assay allows for detection of liver stage parasites after challenging humanized mice with infected mosquito bites or after intravenous injection with sporozoites. The sensitivity of the protoco

SUBMITTER: Foquet L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4222492 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature