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Freeze fracture studies on the interaction between the malaria parasite and the host erythrocyte in Plasmodium knowlesi infections

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

Diane J. McLaren ,
L. H. Bannister ,
P. I. Trigg  and
G. A. Butcher
Diane J. McLaren
Affiliation:
Division of Parasitology, National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA
L. H. Bannister
Affiliation:
Departments of Biology and Anatomy, Guy's Hospital Medical School, London SE1 9RT
P. I. Trigg
Affiliation:
Division of Parasitology, National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA
G. A. Butcher
Affiliation:
Departments of Biology and Anatomy, Guy's Hospital Medical School, London SE1 9RT
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Summary

The freeze fracture technique has been used to study the internal cyto-architecture of the surface membranes of the parasite and erythrocyte in Plasmodium knowlesi infections. Six fracture faces, derived from the plasma membrane and 2 pellicular membranes, have been identified at the surface of the free merozoite. The apposed leaflets of the 2 pellicular membranes show the characteristic features of E fracture faces, a result compatible with the view that the pellicular membranes line a potential cisterna. There is evidence to suggest that there may be changes in the distribution and density of the integral proteins in the merozoite plasma membrane at invasion. Furthermore, vesicles consisting of stacked membranes occur within and around the erythrocyte invagination at invasion; it is suggested that these vesicles are released from the merozoite rhoptries. Formation of the parasitophorous vacuole is accompanied by dramatic changes in the density and distribution of intra-membraneous particles (IMP) in the vacuolar membrane. Initially there is a great reduction in particle numbers, but subsequently the particles reappear and show reversed polarity. The possible causes and implications of these changes are discussed. The intra-erythrocytic parasite synthesizes new transmembrane proteins as development proceeds, and the trophozoite and schizont stages of development are characterized by the appearance of circular, particle-free regions in the parasite plasmalemma. There is a decrease in the density of transmembrane proteins in the erythrocyte plasma membrane during parasite maturation, and the P face IMP show the characteristic features of aggregation.

Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 79 , Issue 1 , August 1979 , pp. 125 - 139
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1979

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