title: Reliable transfection of Plasmodium falciparum using non-commercial plasmid mini preparations.
abstract: Transfection of Plasmodium falciparum is instrumental in the research on this parasite. However, the actual transfection protocol has not changed significantly since the first description and it is generally believed that large amounts of highly pure plasmid DNA are needed for successful transfection. Here, we report the transfection of P. falciparum using a protocol based on non-commercial mini-preparations of plasmid DNA. This method permits the reliable transfection of P. falciparum using less resources and lower costs, with a success rate comparable with currently used methods. A moderate throughput may be achieved using this method, providing a first step towards systematic transfection approaches in this parasite.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, PO Royal Brisbane Hospital, Qld 4029, Australia. Tobias.Spielmann@gmail.com
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Spielmann
authors.forename: Matthew W A
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hernandez-Valladares
authors.forename: Mandy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hannemann
authors.forename: Katharine R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Trenholme
authors.forename: Donald L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Gardiner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D017125:Genes, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods*; D019076:Transgenes / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins