Figure 3.
Influence of knobs on zeta potential (ZP) and cytoadherence. (A) Electron micrographs of knobby and knobless P. falciparum trophozoite-infected red blood cells (iRBCs). Panels a–d: scanning electron microscopic images. Panels e–h: transmission electron microscopic images. Bar represents 1 μm. (B, C) ZP values of iRBCs containing Indochina and KAHRP(−) 3D7 parasites, respectively, compared to mock-cultured RBC controls. (D) Relative cytoadherence of iRBCs containing knob-forming (3D7) and knobless (Indochina, KAHRP(−) 3D7) parasite clones. An average of 1.2 3D7 iRBCs were bound per MVEC. (E) Effects of neuraminidase and trypsin treatments on cytoadherence of iRBCs containing 3D7, Indochina, or KAHRP(−) 3D7 P. falciparum clones. Cytodherence levels of untreated iRBCs were set at 100%.