Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 5, 2026

Selection of Plasmodium falciparum Parasites for Cytoadhesion to Human Brain Endothelial Cells
10:09

Selection of Plasmodium falciparum Parasites for Cytoadhesion to Human Brain Endothelial Cells

Published on: January 3, 2012

21.4K

Plasmodium falciparum adhesion on human brain microvascular endothelial cells involves transmigration-like cup

Ronan Jambou1, Valery Combes, Marie-Jose Jambou

  • 1Vascular Immunology Unit, Department of Pathology and Bosch Institute, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. rjambou@pasteur.fr

Plos Pathogens
|August 6, 2010
PubMed

Insights

In cerebral malaria, infected red blood cells transfer material to brain endothelial cells, altering their function and contributing to disease. This interaction opens intercellular junctions, making endothelial cells targets for immune responses.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Cerebral malaria is a lethal complication of malaria, marked by infected red blood cell sequestration in brain microvessels.
  • While IRBC adhesion molecules are known, the IRBC/EC junction structure and EC impact remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the structural and functional consequences of infected red blood cell (IRBC) and brain endothelial cell (EC) interactions.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms underlying EC alterations in cerebral malaria.

Main Methods:

  • Co-culture of human brain microvascular EC monolayers with IRBC.
  • Analysis of material transfer, antigen uptake, and intercellular junction dynamics.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated a trogocytosis-like transfer of IRBC material to ECs.
  • Observed TNF-enhanced IRBC engulfment and parasite antigen transfer to EC endosomes.
  • Showed cytoskeleton-dependent antigen transfer and opening of intercellular EC junctions.

Conclusions:

  • IRBC antigen transfer transforms ECs into immune targets, contributing to cerebral malaria pathology.
  • Adhesion-induced EC alterations, including junction opening and potential edema, are key features of severe malaria.

More Related Videos

A Simple Protocol for Platelet-mediated Clumping of Plasmodium falciparum-infected Erythrocytes in a Resource Poor Setting07:27

A Simple Protocol for Platelet-mediated Clumping of Plasmodium falciparum-infected Erythrocytes in a Resource Poor Setting

Published on: May 16, 2013

21.1K
In Vivo Assessment of Rodent Plasmodium Parasitemia and Merozoite Invasion by Flow Cytometry07:16

In Vivo Assessment of Rodent Plasmodium Parasitemia and Merozoite Invasion by Flow Cytometry

Published on: April 5, 2015

9.6K

Related Concept Videos

The Blood-brain Barrier00:49

The Blood-brain Barrier

Overview
47.4K
Symbiosis00:58

Symbiosis

Symbiotic relationships are long-term, close interactions between individuals of different species that affect the distribution and abundance of those species. When a relationship is beneficial to both species, this is called mutualism. When the relationship is beneficial to one species but neither beneficial nor harmful to the other species, this is called commensalism. When one organism is harmed to benefit another, the relationship is known as parasitism. These types of relationships often...
27.8K
Adherens Junctions01:24

Adherens Junctions

Strong contact points between adjacent cells anchor them to each other, forming tissues. Such anchoring junctions are of two types –  adherens junctions and desmosomes. Adherens junctions are abundant in tissues such as  epithelium and endothelium, forming a continuous zone of adhesion called the adhesion belt. In other tissues, such as  heart muscle, they appear as clusters, linking the cells to produce coordinated heart muscle contraction.
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
5.8K
Diversity of Protists II01:27

Diversity of Protists II

Alveolates are a group of organisms recognized by the presence of alveoli, which are cytoplasmic sacs located beneath the cell membrane. While their function remains uncertain, alveoli may help regulate water balance by controlling how much water enters and leaves the cell. In dinoflagellates, these structures may serve as armor plates. There are three major types of alveolates: ciliates, which move using cilia; dinoflagellates, which use flagella for movement; and apicomplexans, which are...
2.3K