Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 17, 2026

In Vitro Assay of Plasmodium-Infected Red Blood Cell Killing by Cytotoxic Lymphocytes
08:20

In Vitro Assay of Plasmodium-Infected Red Blood Cell Killing by Cytotoxic Lymphocytes

Published on: August 17, 2022

Purine metabolism by the avian malarial parasite Plasmodium lophurae

K A Yamada, I W Sherman

    Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology
    |August 1, 1981
    PubMed

    Insights

    Duckling erythrocytes break down AMP into IMP, inosine, and hypoxanthine. The parasite Plasmodium lophurae utilizes host hypoxanthine for purine needs, avoiding competition for essential adenosine.

    Area of Science:

    • Biochemistry
    • Parasitology
    • Cell Biology

    Background:

    • Duckling erythrocytes metabolize adenosine monophosphate (AMP) to inosine monophosphate (IMP), inosine, and hypoxanthine.
    • Adenosine and adenine are not products of AMP catabolism in these cells.
    • Plasmodium lophurae is an avian malaria parasite that infects duck erythrocytes.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the purine metabolism of Plasmodium lophurae.
    • To determine how Plasmodium lophurae obtains purines for its survival.
    • To elucidate the interaction between parasite purine salvage pathways and host erythrocyte metabolism.

    Main Methods:

    • Incubation of erythrocyte-free Plasmodium lophurae with radiolabeled hypoxanthine.
    • Analysis of purine nucleotide formation and hypoxanthine conversion.
    • Incubation with adenosine to assess catabolism by intact or lysed parasites.
    • Preparation of parasites using antibody lysis or saponin.

    Main Results:

    • Plasmodium lophurae recovered approximately 60% of [14C]hypoxanthine as purine nucleotides, with no extracellular alteration observed.
    • Intact parasites did not extensively convert added adenosine.
    • Lysis of parasites (antibody or saponin) released cytosolic enzymes that extensively converted adenosine to inosine and hypoxanthine.
    • Plasmodial surface membrane ecto-enzymes were not responsible for adenosine catabolism.

    Conclusions:

    • Plasmodium lophurae appears to utilize the host erythrocyte's purine turnover, specifically hypoxanthine, as a purine source.
    • The parasite avoids direct competition with the erythrocyte for essential adenosine.
    • Increased hypoxanthine in infected duckling plasma suggests its utilization by Plasmodium lophurae.

    More Related Videos

    Generating Genetically Modified Plasmodium berghei Sporozoites10:16

    Generating Genetically Modified Plasmodium berghei Sporozoites

    Published on: May 5, 2023

    Understanding the Development of Compensatory Pathways in a Mutant Malaria Parasite Harbouring Hypomorphic Allele of Plant-Like Kinases09:13

    Understanding the Development of Compensatory Pathways in a Mutant Malaria Parasite Harbouring Hypomorphic Allele of Plant-Like Kinases

    Published on: November 22, 2024

    Related Concept Videos

    Symbiosis00:58

    Symbiosis

    Symbiotic relationships are long-term, close interactions between individuals of different species that affect the distribution and abundance of those species. When a relationship is beneficial to both species, this is called mutualism. When the relationship is beneficial to one species but neither beneficial nor harmful to the other species, this is called commensalism. When one organism is harmed to benefit another, the relationship is known as parasitism. These types of relationships often...
    Diversity of Protists II01:27

    Diversity of Protists II

    Alveolates are a group of organisms recognized by the presence of alveoli, which are cytoplasmic sacs located beneath the cell membrane. While their function remains uncertain, alveoli may help regulate water balance by controlling how much water enters and leaves the cell. In dinoflagellates, these structures may serve as armor plates. There are three major types of alveolates: ciliates, which move using cilia; dinoflagellates, which use flagella for movement; and apicomplexans, which are...
    Malaria01:29

    Malaria

    Malaria pathogenesis in humans reflects a delicate interplay between parasite biology and host response. Clinical illness reflects a host’s immune response to the parasite’s asexual replication cycle, which is often asymptomatic in individuals with partial immunity. From the parasite's perspective, transmission between mosquito and human with minimal host pathology is evolutionarily advantageous. Among the six Plasmodium species infecting humans, P. falciparum and P. vivax dominate in global...
    Antiprotozoal Agents01:21

    Antiprotozoal Agents

    Leishmaniasis is a widespread parasitic disease caused by several Leishmania species. It affects millions of people each year and remains a major public health problem in endemic regions. First-line treatment relies on pentavalent antimonials, including meglumine antimoniate and sodium stibogluconate. Even so, how these drugs work has not been fully clear, especially their interaction with parasite-specific biochemical pathways. One key target is trypanothione reductase (TR), an enzyme that...