title: A Plasmodium falciparum exo-antigen alters erythrocyte membrane deformability.
abstract: Here we describe a reduced membrane deformability of human erythrocytes when aspirated into 0.6 microns diameter in polycarbonate sieves, after exposure of uninfected cells to spent parasite-culture supernatant. This, taken in concert with a previous observation that intra-erythrocytic development of the parasite P. falciparum decreases host localised membrane deformability, may indicate a biological role for such parasite-induced changes in the rheological properties of the erythrocyte.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Naumann
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saul
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D001345:Autoradiography; D001665:Binding Sites; D004907:Erythrocyte Deformability; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan