Culture of human malaria parasites Plasmodium falciparum

TLDR: A new culture method for P. falciparum is described, which involves an inoculum of cryopre-served parasites and make possible an analysis of merozoite–erythrocyte interactions, growth for more than 3 weeks in vitro and the collection ofmerozoites.

Abstract: MALARIA is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, claiming an estimated one million lives a year in Africa alone1. Plasmodium falciparum, the most important agent of human malaria, has not been maintained for more than 2–6 d in vitro2–10. The development of a vaccine for malaria depends on suitable culture methods for the production of relevant antigens1. We describe here a new culture method for P. falciparum, which involves an inoculum of cryopre-served parasites and make possible an analysis of merozoite–erythrocyte interactions, growth for more than 3 weeks in vitro and the collection of merozoites. Merozoites are of particular interest because vaccination with the merozoites of P. knowlesi protects rhesus monkeys from infection with this species of malaria parasite11.