Invasion of erythrocytes by Plasmodium falciparum in vitro

The erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum from Aotus trivirgatus were grown in Mill Hill medium. Significant invasion of erythrocytes was obtained by a subculture technique. This invasion, by parasites grown in Aotus erythrocytes, was greater when human erythrocytes were added to the cultures than when parasites were allowed to invade Aotus erythrocytes. This difference appeared to be a function of the properties of the erythrocyte and was not serum dependent.