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Gametogenesis in culture by gametocytes of Plasmodium falciparum

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Abstract

CONTINUOUS culture of human malaria parasites, Plasmodium falciparum, in human red blood cells was first reported by Trager and Jensen1 and subsequently by Haynes and co-workers2. The culture system described by Trager and Jensen supports the asexual multiplication of P. falciparum and the formation of gametocytes (the precursors of the gametes). Gamete formation by cultured P. falciparum, without which the parasites are unable to infect mosquitoes, has not been previously described. We report here that gametocytes of P. falciparum grown from parasites maintained by continuous culture in vitro are able to develop to the point at which they can be stimulated to undergo gametogenesis (exflagellation).

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Malaria Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20014

    RICHARD CARTER & RAYMOND F. BEACH

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  1. RICHARD CARTER
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  2. RAYMOND F. BEACH
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CARTER, R., BEACH, R. Gametogenesis in culture by gametocytes of Plasmodium falciparum. Nature 270, 240–241 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/270240a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/270240a0

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