Characterization of Plasmodium falciparum cloned lines with respect to gametocyte production in vitro, infectivity to Anopheles mosquitoes, and transmission to Aotus monkeys.
The production of gametocytes in vitro and their subsequent infectivity to mosquitoes by 3 cloned lines of Plasmodium falciparum were studied. 2 of the cloned lines, Honduras I-clone B3 and Indochina III-clone W2, produced mature gametocytes (stage V) that were infective to Anopheles mosquitoes. The third clone, Sierra Leone I-clone D6, produced gametocytes, the majority of which did not develop beyond stage III. Fully mature gametocytes of Sierra Leone I-clone D6 were not infective to mosquitoes. Sporozoites collected from An. freeborni infected with Honduras I-clone B3 were used in transmission studies. Two of three Aotus monkeys were infected after prepatent periods of 19 and 20 d, respectively. This study supports previous reports that cloned lines of P. falciparum contain the full genetic capacity to produce morphologically mature gametocytes. The transmission to Aotus monkeys has also conclusively established that biologically competent gametocytes of both sexes are produced by clones.
Teklehaimanot
A
A
Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, US Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA 30333.
Collins
W E
WE
Nguyen-Dinh
P
P
Campbell
C C
CC
Bhasin
V K
VK
D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000469:parasitology*; D001029:Aotus trivirgatus; D002999:Clone Cells; D005718:Gametogenesis; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008288:Malaria / Q000635:transmission; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*