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Adaptation of the genetically tractable malaria pathogen Plasmodium knowlesi to continuous culture in human erythrocytes.

Authors :
Moon, Robert W.
Hall, Joanna
Rangkuti, Farania
Yung Shwen Ho
Almond, Neil
Mitchell, Graham H.
Pain, Arnab
Holder, Anthony A.
Blackman, Michael J.
Source :
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 1/8/2013, Vol. 110 Issue 2, p531-536. 6p.
Publication Year :
2013

Abstract

Research into the aetiological agent of the most widespread form of severe malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, has benefitted enormously from the ability to culture and genetically manipulate blood-stage forms of the parasite in vitro. However, most malaria outside Africa is caused by a distinct Plasmodium species, Plasmodium vivax, and it has become increasingly apparent that zoonotic infection by the closely related simian parasite Plasmodium knowlesi is a frequent cause of life-threatening malaria in regions of southeast Asia. Neither of these important malarial species can be cultured in human cells in vitro, requiring access to primates with the associated ethical and practical constraints. We report the successful adaptation of P. knowlesi to continuous culture in human erythrocytes. Human-adapted P. knowlesi clones maintain their capacity to replicate in monkey erythrocytes and can be genetically modified with unprecedented efficiency, providing an important and unique model for studying conserved aspects of malarial biology as well as species-specific features of an emerging pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00278424
Volume :
110
Issue :
2
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
84704728
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1216457110