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A new look at nonparasitized red cells of malaria-infected monkeys

Nature volume 299, pages 259–261 (1982)Cite this article

Abstract

Many reports have shown that malarial parasites can produce distinct morphological and molecular alterations in the membranes of the parasitized erythrocytes1–8, but few studies have been carried out on nonparasitized erythrocytes of infected animals9–11. We report here that the outer leaflet of the membrane bilayer of nonparasitized erythrocytes contains significantly larger amounts of aminophospholipids (phos-phatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylserine (PS)), than the normal red cell membrane. This alteration in nonparasitized red cells is probably caused by Ca2+-induced cross-linking of spectrin, and gradually disappears after chloroquine treatment. The external localization of PS in these cells together with defective structure of their cytoskeletal network provide a strong basis for the complications associated with malaria infection like thrombosis, infarction and severe anaemia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Divisions of Biophysics & Microbiology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, 226001, India

    C. M. Gupta, A. Alam, P. N. Mathur & G. P. Dutta

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  1. C. M. Gupta
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  2. A. Alam
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  3. P. N. Mathur
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  4. G. P. Dutta
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Gupta, C., Alam, A., Mathur, P. et al. A new look at nonparasitized red cells of malaria-infected monkeys. Nature 299, 259–261 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/299259a0

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