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Intravital Microscopy of the Mouse Brain Microcirculation using a Closed Cranial Window
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Published on: November 18, 2010

Brain capillary blockage produced by a virulent strain of rodent malaria

M Yoeli, B J Hargreaves

    Science (New York, N.Y.)
    |May 3, 1974
    PubMed

    Insights

    A mild malaria parasite strain became highly virulent, causing fatal brain infections in mice. This virulent strain could be a valuable model for studying cerebral malaria.

    Area of Science:

    • Malariology
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Neuroscience

    Background:

    • Plasmodium berghei yoelii is a rodent malaria parasite.
    • Certain strains can cause severe infections.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To characterize a newly virulent strain of Plasmodium berghei yoelii.
    • To assess its potential as a model for cerebral malaria.

    Main Methods:

    • Induction of a virulent Plasmodium berghei yoelii 17X strain.
    • Cyclical transmission through Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes.
    • Infection of CF1 and A/J mice.

    Main Results:

    • The mutated strain caused fulminating and fatal infections in mice.
    • Virulence was maintained over ten transmission cycles.
    • The virulent strain crossed the blood-brain barrier, causing capillary blockage.

    Conclusions:

    • The virulent Plasmodium berghei yoelii 17X strain is a potent model for cerebral malaria research.
    • This model allows for studying parasite-induced brain pathology.

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