Assaying Interactions Between Neutrophils and Plasmodium falciparum-Infected Red Blood Cells

Plasmodium falciparum, which causes the deadliest form of human malaria, is able to evade antibody-mediated immune responses through switches in expression of surface antigens. Thus, over the years, the focus of most research has been on the role of the adaptive immune response in the course of malaria. However, in recent years there is mounting evidence for the role of the innate immune response to Plasmodium infections. In this context, very little is known on the protective role of neutrophils against blood-stage parasites and the mechanisms by which they recognize and eliminate infected red blood cells. Here we describe several useful methodologies that enable the study and quantification of the interactions between human neutrophils and P. falciparum-infected red blood cells.