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Updated: Jan 17, 2026
In Vivo Assessment of Rodent Plasmodium Parasitemia and Merozoite Invasion by Flow Cytometry
Published on: April 5, 2015
Quantification and visualization of malaria-infected erythroblasts by imaging flow cytometry.
Takashi Imai1, Shinya Miyazaki2, Yukiko Miyazaki2
1Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), Japan Institute for Health Security (JIHS), Tokyo, Japan; Department of Infectious Diseases and Host Defense, Gunma University, Gunma, Japan; Department of Microbiology, Saitama Medical University, Saitama, Japan; Leprosy Research Center, NIID, JIHS, Tokyo, Japan; Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, NIID, JIHS, Tokyo, Japan.
Imaging flow cytometry (ImageStream) effectively detects rare malaria-infected erythroblasts (pEBs) in mouse spleen and bone marrow. This powerful technique aids in studying malaria parasite interactions within hematopoietic tissues.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Parasitology
Background:
- Malaria parasites traditionally infect red blood cells.
- Recent evidence shows invasion of nucleated erythroblasts.
- Visualizing and quantifying these parasitized erythroblasts (pEBs) in vivo is challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To employ imaging flow cytometry (ImageStream) for identifying and characterizing pEBs.
- To compare ImageStream with conventional flow cytometry (FACS) for pEB quantification.
- To investigate host-parasite interactions within hematopoietic tissues.
Main Methods:
- Mice infected with Plasmodium yoelii 17XNL were analyzed using ImageStream and FACS.
- Cells were stained for erythroid markers (TER119), nucleated cell markers (MHC class I, Hoechst), and GFP.
- Analysis focused on spleen, bone marrow, and peripheral blood.
Main Results:
- ImageStream successfully detected and visualized GFP+TER119+MHC class Ihi Hoechst+ pEBs.
- Significant pEB populations were found in spleen and bone marrow, but not peripheral blood.
- ImageStream quantification correlated well with FACS, validating the imaging approach.
Conclusions:
- ImageStream is a powerful tool for high-throughput, image-based detection of pEBs.
- This method facilitates studying host-parasite interactions in hematopoietic tissues.
- The approach may reveal insights into parasite persistence and immune evasion mechanisms.
