Heterogeneity in filterability of erythrocytes from malaria (Plasmodium berghei)-infected blood

Summary Erythrocytes fromPlasmodium berghei-infected blood show a decrease in deformability with increasing parasitaemia, as measured by filterability through polycarbonate sieves. A major fraction of cells carrying mature parasites and a smaller fraction carrying ring-stage parasites account for the obstruction of filtration, while the remaining infected cells do not contribute to the decrease in filterability. The relation of filterability to metabolic status in infected cells is discussed. Acknowledgment. This investigation received the financial support of the UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR 800352) and the Rockefeller Foundation Programme for Great Neglected Diseases.