title: Molecular detection and quantification of Plasmodium falciparum-infected human hepatocytes in chimeric immune-deficient mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chimeric mice with humanized livers represent a promising tool for infections with Plasmodium falciparum to evaluate novel methods for prevention and treatment of pre-erythrocytic stages. Adequate assessment of hepatic infections is generally compromised by the limited number of human hepatocytes infected by developing parasites.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qPCR-based method has been developed that sensitively and reliably detects P. falciparum liver stage infection of humanized mice and quantitatively expresses the results as the number of parasites per human hepatocyte.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This assay allows for detection of liver stage parasites after challenging humanized mice with infected mosquito bites or after intravenous injection with sporozoites. The sensitivity of the protocol, which comprises approximately 25% of the total chimeric liver, allows for the detection of a single infected hepatocyte in the analysed tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This method allows for the detection and quantification of P. falciparum parasites in chimeric mice repopulated with human hepatocytes. It will be a useful tool when studying the in vivo therapeutic and/or prophylactic qualities of novel compounds, small molecules or antibodies directed against the liver stage of P. falciparum infections.
authors.affiliation: Center for Vaccinology, Ghent University and University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, Ghent 9000, Belgium. geert.lerouxroels@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Lander
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Foquet
authors.forename: Cornelus C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hermsen
authors.forename: Geert-Jan
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: van Gemert
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Libbrecht
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sauerwein
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Meuleman
authors.forename: Geert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leroux-Roels
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000637:transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000469:parasitology*; D051379:Mice; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan