A flow cytometry-based assay for measuring invasion of red blood cells by Plasmodium falciparum.
Variability in the ability of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum to invade human erythrocytes is postulated to be an important determinant of disease severity. Both the parasite multiplication rate and erythrocyte selectivity are important parameters that underlie such variable invasion. We have established a flow cytometry-based method for simultaneously calculating both the parasitemia and the number of multiply-infected erythrocytes. Staining with the DNA-specific dye SYBR Green I allows quantitation of parasite invasion at the ring stage of parasite development. We discuss in vitro and in vivo applications and limitations of this method in relation to the study of parasite invasion.
Bei
Amy K
AK
Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Desimone
Tiffany M
TM
Badiane
Aida S
AS
Ahouidi
Ambroise D
AD
Dieye
Tandakha
T
Ndiaye
Daouda
D
Sarr
Ousmane
O
Ndir
Omar
O
Mboup
Souleymane
S
Duraisingh
Manoj T
MT
D052160:Benzothiazoles; D003959:Diamines; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000469:parasitology*; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000175:diagnosis; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D011804:Quinolines; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D052160:Benzothiazoles; D003959:Diamines; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011804:Quinolines; C098022:SYBR Green I