Stage-dependent toxicity of N-acetyl-glucosamine to Plasmodium falciparum

The effects of N-acetyl-glucosamine on growth of synchronized cultures of Plasmodium falciparum were assessed by morphological observations and by measurement of parasite incorporation of 3H-hypoxanthine. Inhibition of 3H-hypoxanthine incorporation was more marked during the later stages of the erythrocytic cycle. At concentrations of the sugar below 20 mM, however, the deleterious effects were mainly a result of failure of released merozoites to invade erythrocytes, rather than a failure of schizonts to mature or release merozoites. These results are compatible with the hypothesis that a lectin-like substance on the merozoite interacts with a surface glycoprotein on the red cell and that sugar residues on this glycoprotein may be involved in this recognition.