Use of magnetically purified Plasmodium falciparum parasites improves the accuracy of erythrocyte invasion assays.
Merozoite invasion of erythrocytes is a crucial step for the asexual cycle of Plasmodium falciparum. Multiple invasion pathways, which involve different ligand-receptor interactions, have been identified in P. falciparum by examining the entry of purified parasite into erythrocytes with different surface receptors, either mutant or under different enzyme treatments. The most critical step for a successful invasion assay is the isolation of erythrocytes infected with viable schizonts. Here, we applied a magnetic column to purify the schizonts for the erythrocyte invasion assay. Comparing to Percoll-sorbitol purification method, this modified approach showed great improvement on reproducibility and reliability of invasion assay, particularly for short-term, culture-adapted parasite isolates. The magnetic purification method is an excellent alternative for parasite isolates that do not tolerate or with unknown sensitivity to Percoll-sorbitol exposure.
Bates
Adam H
AH
Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Mu
Jianbing
J
Jiang
Hongying
H
Fairhurst
Rick M
RM
Su
Xin-zhuan
XZ
D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008280:Magnetics / Q000379:methods*; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology*; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011205:Povidone; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D013012:Sorbitol
D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D013012:Sorbitol; C016039:Percoll; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D011205:Povidone