The malaria parasite monitored by photoacoustic spectroscopy.
Noninvasive photoacoustic spectroscopy was used to study the malaria parasites Plasmodium chabaudi and Plasmodium berghei, their pigment, and ferriprotoporphyrin IX, which is a by-product of the hemoglobin that the parasite ingests. The results indicate that the pigment consists of ferriprotophorphyrin self-aggregates and a noncovalent complex of ferriprotoporphyrin and protein. Spectra of chloroquine-treated parasites reveal in situ interaction between the drug and ferriprotoporphyrin. Chloroquine-resistant parasites, readily distinguishable by this method, appear to degrade hemoglobin only partially.
D000818:Animals; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology*; D006420:Hemeproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006427:Hemin / Q000378:metabolism; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000502:physiology*; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000378:metabolism; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods*
D006420:Hemeproteins; D006454:Hemoglobins; D011524:Protoporphyrins; C020753:hemozoin; D006427:Hemin; D002738:Chloroquine