Growth of Plasmodium falciparum in sodium-enriched human erythrocytes.
Transport of nutrients into animal cells is driven by transmembrane gradient of Na+ across the plasma membrane. The protozoan malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, however, grows within the host human erythrocytes, in which the cytoplasmic concentration of Na+ is maintained low by the membrane Na+, K+-ATPase. Our experiments show that human erythrocytes enriched with Na+ by treatment with ouabain (an inhibitor of the ATPase) will support the growth of P. falciparum in culture.
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D010042:Ouabain / Q000494:pharmacology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000254:growth & development*; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood*
D010042:Ouabain; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium