title: Transformation of the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium chabaudi.
abstract: The rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi shares many features with human malaria species, including P. falciparum, and is the in vivo model of choice for many aspects of malaria research in the mammalian host, from sequestration of parasitized erythrocytes, to antigenic variation and host immunity and immunopathology. This protocol describes an optimized method for the transformation of mature blood-stage P.c. chabaudi and a description of a vector that targets efficient, single crossover integration into the P.c. chabaudi genome. Transformed lines are reproducibly generated and selected within 14-20 d, and show stable long-term protein expression even in the absence of drug selection. This protocol, therefore, provides the scientific community with a robust and reproducible method to generate transformed P.c. chabaudi parasites expressing fluorescent, bioluminescent and model antigens that can be used in vivo to dissect many of the fundamental principles of malaria infection.
authors: Division of Parasitology, Medical Research Council National Institute for Medical Research, London, UK.
authors: Philip J
authors: PJ
authors: Spence
authors: Division of Parasitology, Medical Research Council National Institute for Medical Research, London, UK.
authors: Deirdre
authors: D
authors: Cunningham
authors: Division of Parasitology, Medical Research Council National Institute for Medical Research, London, UK.
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Jarra
authors: Division of Parasitology, Medical Research Council National Institute for Medical Research, London, UK.
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Lawton
authors: Division of Parasitology, Medical Research Council National Institute for Medical Research, London, UK.
authors: Jean
authors: J
authors: Langhorne
authors: Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
authors: Joanne
authors: J
authors: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016788:Plasmodium chabaudi / Q000235:genetics*; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods; D014170:Transformation, Genetic
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan