title: RBC barcoding allows for the study of erythrocyte population dynamics and P. falciparum merozoite invasion.
abstract: Plasmodium falciparum invasion of host erythrocytes is essential for the propagation of the blood stage of malaria infection. Additionally, the brief extracellular merozoite stage of P. falciparum represents one of the rare windows during which the parasite is directly exposed to the host immune response. Therefore, efficient invasion of the host erythrocyte is necessary not only for productive host erythrocyte infection, but also for evasion of the immune response. Host traits, such as hemoglobinopathies and differential expression of erythrocyte invasion ligands, can protect individuals from malaria by impeding parasite erythrocyte invasion. Here we combine RBC barcoding with flow cytometry to study P. falciparum invasion. This novel high-throughput method allows for the (i) direct comparison of P. falciparum invasion into different erythrocyte populations and (ii) assessment of the impact of changing erythrocyte population dynamics on P. falciparum invasion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America.
authors.forename: Martha A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America.
authors.forename: Morgan M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Goheen
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America.
authors.forename: Nicholas A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Spidale
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America.
authors.forename: Raj S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Kasthuri
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fulford
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council International Nutrition Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom & Medical Research Council Keneba, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cerami
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000502:physiology*