title: Human red blood cell-adapted Plasmodium knowlesi parasites: a new model system for malaria research.
abstract: Plasmodium knowlesi is a simian malaria parasite primarily infecting macaque species in Southeast Asia. Although its capacity to infect humans has been recognized since the early part of the last century, it has recently become evident that human infections are widespread and potentially life threatening. Historically, P.  knowlesi has proven to be a powerful tool in early studies of malaria parasites, providing key breakthroughs in understanding many aspects of Plasmodium biology. However, the necessity to grow the parasite either in macaques or in vitro using macaque blood restricted research to laboratories with access to these resources. The recent adaptation of P.  knowlesi to grow and proliferate in vitro in human red blood cells (RBCs) is therefore a substantial step towards revitalizing and expanding research on P.  knowlesi. Furthermore, the development of a highly efficient transfection system to genetically modify the parasite makes P.  knowlesi an ideal model to study parasite biology. In this review, we elaborate on the importance of P.  knowlesi in earlier phases of malaria research and highlight the future potential of the newly available human adapted P.  knowlesi parasite lines.
authors: Department of Immunology & Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
authors: Christof
authors: C
authors: Grüring
authors: Robert W
authors: RW
authors: Moon
authors: Caeul
authors: C
authors: Lim
authors: Anthony A
authors: AA
authors: Holder
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Blackman
authors: Manoj T
authors: MT
authors: Duraisingh
mesh_terms: D000220:Adaptation, Biological; D000818:Animals; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008251:Macaca; D010274:Parasitology / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods; D016790:Plasmodium knowlesi / Q000502:physiology*