Detection of Protein Aggregation in Live Plasmodium Parasites

Abstract

The rapid evolution of resistance in the malaria parasite to every single drug developed against it calls for the urgent identification of new molecular targets. Using a stain specific for the detection of intracellular amyloid deposits in live cells, we have detected the presence of abundant protein aggregates in Plasmodium falciparum blood stages and female gametes cultured in vitro , in the blood stages of mice infected by Plasmodium yoelii , and in the mosquito stages of the murine malaria species Plasmodium berghei .