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Transition from Plasmodial Hypnozoite to Schizont Demonstrated.
1School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Wits Research Institute for Malaria, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Trends in Parasitology
|April 17, 2020
Summary
Researchers observed activated malaria hypnozoites forming schizonts in vitro for the first time. This provides empirical evidence supporting the long-standing hypnozoite theory of malaria relapse.
Area of Science:
- Malariology
- Parasitology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The hypnozoite theory proposes dormant malaria parasites (hypnozoites) cause relapses.
- Direct observation of hypnozoite activation and development has been challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide the first in vitro observation of activated hypnozoite progression to schizonts.
- To offer empirical parasitological evidence for the hypnozoite theory of malaria relapse.
Main Methods:
- Utilized green-fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing hypnozoites.
- Activated hypnozoites in vitro and observed their morphological changes.
- Tracked the transition from GFP-positive to mCherry-positive stages.
Main Results:
- Successfully observed individual activated hypnozoites progressing to schizonts in vitro.
- Demonstrated a visual transition from green fluorescence (hypnozoite) to red fluorescence (mCherry) upon activation.
- Confirmed the development pathway of hypnozoites into schizonts.
Conclusions:
- Provides the first direct, empirical parasitological proof of hypnozoite activation and development.
- Strongly supports the 40-year-old hypnozoite theory of malaria relapse.
- Opens new avenues for studying hypnozoite biology and developing targeted interventions.
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