A simple method for isolating viable mature parasites of Plasmodium falciparum from cultures

• Published in: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Vol. 78; no. 5; pp. 622 - 624
• Main Authors: Dluzewski, A.R., Ling, Irene T., Rangachari, Kaveri, Bates, P.A., Wilson, R.J.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 1984; Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Biochemistry. Physiology. Immunology. Molecular biology; Biological and medical sciences; Culture Media; Erythrocytes - parasitology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Human protozoal diseases; Infectious diseases; Malaria; Medical sciences; Parasitic diseases; Parasitology - methods; Plasmodium falciparum - growth & development; Plasmodium falciparum - isolation & purification; Povidone; Protozoa; Protozoal diseases; Silicon Dioxide; Tropical medicine; Plasmodium falciparum; Isolation; Technique
• ISSN: 0035-9203; 1878-3503
• DOI: 10.1016/0035-9203(84)90221-9

Mature asexual parasites from cultures of knobby or knobless clones of P. falciparum containing 5 to 10% late forms were harvested by layering up to 10 9 erythrpcytes on 3 ml Percoll. The density of the Percoll was adjusted to between 1·081 and 1·091 g cm −3, depending on the maturity of the p arasites. Centrifugation at 1500 g for 10 min produced a sharp band at the interface containing mature parasites with a purity averaging 86%. Washed parasites derived from the layer or pellet showed good viability in vitro.