Concentration and purification by magnetic separation of the erythrocytic stages of all human Plasmodium species.

Ribaut, Clotilde; Berry, Antoine; Chevalley, Séverine; Reybier, Karine; Morlais, Isabelle; Parzy, Daniel; Nepveu, Françoise; Benoit-Vical, Françoise; Valentin, Alexis

Background: Parasite concentration methods facilitate molecular, biochemical and immunological research on the erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium. In this paper, an adaptation of magnetic MACS® columns for the purification of human Plasmodium species is presented. This method was useful for the concentration/purification of either schizonts or gametocytes. Results and conclusions: The magnetic removal of non-parasitized red blood cells (in vivo and in vitro) using magnetic columns (MACS) was evaluated. This easy-to-use technique enriched schizonts and gametocytes from Plasmodium falciparum in vitro cultures with a very high degree of purity. In addition, all haemozoin-containing stages (schizonts and/or gametocytes) from the peripheral blood of infected patients could be concentrated using this method. This method is particularly useful for the concentration of non-falciparum species, which do not grow in culture and are otherwise difficult to obtain in large amounts.

MAGNETIC separation; ERYTHROCYTES; GERM cells; PLASMODIUM falciparum; PARASITES

Malaria Journal, 2008, Vol 7, p1

1475-2875

Academic Journal

10.1186/1475-2875-7-45