Biophotonic techniques for the study of malaria-infected red blood cells.
Investigation of the homeostasis of red blood cells upon infection by Plasmodium falciparum poses complex experimental challenges. Changes in red cell shape, volume, protein, and ion balance are difficult to quantify. In this article, we review a wide range of optical techniques for quantitative measurements of critical homeostatic parameters in malaria-infected red blood cells. Fluorescence lifetime imaging and tomographic phase microscopy, quantitative deconvolution microscopy, and X-ray microanalysis, are used to measure haemoglobin concentration, cell volume, and ion contents. Atomic force microscopy is briefly reviewed in the context of these optical methodologies. We also describe how optical tweezers and optical stretchers can be usefully applied to empower basic malaria research to yield diagnostic information on cell compliance changes upon malaria infection. The combined application of these techniques sheds new light on the detailed mechanisms of malaria infection providing potential for new diagnostic or therapeutic approaches.
Mauritz
Jakob M A
JM
Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Esposito
Alessandro
A
Tiffert
Teresa
T
Skepper
Jeremy N
JN
Warley
Alice
A
Yoon
Young-Zoon
YZ
Cicuta
Pietro
P
Lew
Virgilio L
VL
Guck
Jochen R
JR
Kaminski
Clemens F
CF
D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood*; D008846:Micromanipulation / Q000379:methods; D052898:Optical Tweezers; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000502:physiology