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Studies on falciparum malaria with atomic-force and surface-potential microscopes

¹Research Institute of Medical Sciences Tokai University, Kanagawa, Japan. aikawa@is.icc.u-tokai.ac.jp

Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology

|June 17, 1998

Summary

Atomic-force microscopy revealed Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocyte knobs have two subunits and a positive charge, unlike the negative erythrocyte surface. These structural and electrical properties may drive cyto-adherence in malaria.

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Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Malariology
Biophysics

Background:

Erythrocyte surface modifications are crucial for Plasmodium falciparum pathogenesis.
Knob structures on infected erythrocytes are implicated in cyto-adherence, a key process in malaria.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the ultrastructure and surface properties of knobs on unfixed, Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes using Atomic-force microscopy (AFM).
To determine if knob structure and charge contribute to cyto-adherence.

Main Methods:

Atomic-force microscopy (AFM) was employed to image unfixed erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium falciparum.
Surface charge analysis was performed using AFM.

Main Results:

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AFM revealed that erythrocyte knobs, appearing conical under transmission electron microscopy, are composed of two distinct subunits.

The surface of these knobs exhibits a positive electrical charge, contrasting with the negatively charged surface of the surrounding erythrocyte.

Conclusions:

The b subunit structure and positive surface charge of Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte knobs are novel findings.
These identified characteristics of the knobs may play a significant role in the cyto-adherence mechanism observed in falciparum malaria.