title: A rapid and robust tri-color flow cytometry assay for monitoring malaria parasite development.
abstract: Microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained thin blood smears remains the gold standard method used to quantify and stage malaria parasites. However, this technique is tedious, and requires trained microscopists. We have developed a fast and simple flow cytometry method to quantify and stage, various malaria parasites in red blood cells in whole blood or in vitro cultured Plasmodium falciparum. The parasites were stained with dihydroethidium and Hoechst 33342 or SYBR Green I and leukocytes were identified with an antibody against CD45. Depending on the DNA stains used, samples were analyzed using different models of flow cytometers. This protocol, which does not require any washing steps, allows infected red blood cells to be distinguished from leukocytes, as well as allowing non-infected reticulocytes and normocytes to be identified. It also allows assessing the proportion of parasites at different developmental stages. Lastly, we demonstrate how this technique can be applied to antimalarial drug testing.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Malaria Immunobiology, Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research(A*STAR), Biopolis, Singapore.
authors.forename: Benoît
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Malleret
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Claser
authors.forename: Alice Soh Meoy
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.forename: Rossarin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Suwanarusk
authors.forename: Kanlaya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sriprawat
authors.forename: Shanshan Wu
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Howland
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Francois
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nosten
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rénia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000469:parasitology; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000254:growth & development; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000254:growth & development; D010967:Plasmodium yoelii / Q000254:growth & development; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins