title: Imaging of the spleen in malaria.
abstract: Splenomegaly, albeit variably, is a hallmark of malaria; yet, the role of the spleen in Plasmodium infections remains vastly unknown. The implementation of imaging to study the spleen is rapidly advancing our knowledge of this so-called "blackbox" of the abdominal cavity. Not only has ex vivo imaging revealed the complex functional compartmentalization of the organ and immune effector cells, but it has also allowed the observation of major structural remodeling during infections. In vivo imaging, on the other hand, has allowed quantitative measurements of the dynamic passage of the parasite at spatial and temporal resolution. Here, we review imaging techniques used for studying the malarious spleen, from optical microscopy to in vivo imaging, and discuss the bright perspectives of evolving technologies in our present understanding of the role of this organ in infections caused by Plasmodium.
authors.affiliation: Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona) ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Mireia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrer
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martin-Jaular
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Niz
authors.forename: Shahid M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Chris J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Janse
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Heussler
authors.forename: Hernando A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: del Portillo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000379:methods*; D008288:Malaria / Q000469:parasitology*; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D013154:Spleen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography