Pf155/RESA protein influences the dynamic microcirculatory behavior of ring-stage Plasmodium falciparum infected red blood cells.

Monica Diez-Silva (1) , Yongkeun Park (2) , Sha Huang (1) , Hansen Bow (1) , Odile Mercereau-Puijalon (3) , Guillaume Deplaine (3) , Catherine Lavazec (3) , Sylvie Perrot (3) , Serge Bonnefoy (3) , Michael S Feld (1) , Jongyoon Han (2) , Ming Dao (1) , Subra Suresh (1)

1 MIT - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2 KAIST - Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
3 Immunologie moléculaire des parasites

Proteins exported by Plasmodium falciparum to the red blood cell (RBC) membrane modify the structural properties of the parasitized RBC (Pf-RBC). Although quasi-static single cell assays show reduced ring-stage Pf-RBCs deformability, the parameters influencing their microcirculatory behavior remain unexplored. Here, we study the dynamic properties of ring-stage Pf-RBCs and the role of the parasite protein Pf155/Ring-Infected Erythrocyte Surface Antigen (RESA). Diffraction phase microscopy revealed RESA-driven decreased Pf-RBCs membrane fluctuations. Microfluidic experiments showed a RESA-dependent reduction in the Pf-RBCs transit velocity, which was potentiated at febrile temperature. In a microspheres filtration system, incubation at febrile temperature impaired traversal of RESA-expressing Pf-RBCs. These results show that RESA influences ring-stage Pf-RBCs microcirculation, an effect that is fever-enhanced. This is the first identification of a parasite factor influencing the dynamic circulation of young asexual Pf-RBCs in physiologically relevant conditions, offering novel possibilities for interventions to reduce parasite survival and pathogenesis in its human host.

Domains: Microbiology and Parasitology

Monica Diez-Silva, Yongkeun Park, Sha Huang, Hansen Bow, Odile Mercereau-Puijalon, et al.. Pf155/RESA protein influences the dynamic microcirculatory behavior of ring-stage Plasmodium falciparum infected red blood cells.. Scientific Reports, 2012, 2, pp.614. ⟨10.1038/srep00614⟩. ⟨pasteur-01472091⟩