Study of the internalization of macromolecules in erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium falciparum

Abstract

In 2015, the World Health Organization reported 214 million cases of malaria distributed worldwide, with approximately 438,000 deaths. During its life cycle, the malaria parasite invades vertebrate host erythrocytes , where a single parasite reproduces asexually producing 16 to 32 for parasites. The high rate of intra-erythrocytic proliferation is dependent on the uptake of a series of essential nutrients from the host cell cytoplasm and plasma. The process of internalization of macromolecules by the parasite is complex, due to the passage of three membrane, namely the erythrocyte, parasitophorous vacuole and the parasite itself. It is widely recognized that the malaria parasite uptake nutrients of low molecular weight, such as polyols, amino acids, lipids, nucleosides, organic anions and cations in plasma. However, the mechanism used in the uptake of macromolecules remains the subject of debate. To better understand the import of plasma proteins by the parasite in this project, kininogen and plasminogen will be used as a model for study of the uptake of macromolecules. Understanding the cellular mechanisms of the protein intake, which can serve as an additional source of amino acids for the development of the parasite, might provide new elements to the understanding of the changes caused by the parasite in the host and a possible intervention in the Plasmodium life cycle in the host vertebrate can be achieved.