Cellular dissection of malaria parasite invasion of human erythrocytes using viable Plasmodium knowlesi merozoites.

ABSTRACT: Plasmodium knowlesi, a zoonotic parasite causing severe-to-lethal malaria disease in humans, has only recently been adapted to continuous culture with human red blood cells (RBCs). In comparison with the most virulent human malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, there are, however, few cellular tools available to study its biology, in particular direct investigation of RBC invasion by blood-stage P. knowlesi merozoites. This leaves our current understanding of biological differences across pathogenic Plasmodium spp. incomplete. Here, we report a robust method for isolating viable and invasive P. knowlesi merozoites to high purity and yield. Using this approach, we present detailed comparative dissection of merozoite invasion (using a variety of microscopy platforms) and direct assessment of kinet

SUBMITTER: Lyth O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6033891 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature