Figure 5.

Predicted effect of intraerythrocytic multiplication factor (IMF) on parasite density in early simulated infections. A, Normalized cumulative distribution function (nCDF) plots of the maximum infected RBC (Max_IBC) observed for simulations up to 14 days after the beginning of asexual parasite replication (ie, after primary release from the liver). Simulated infections with IMF = 22 and IMF = 26 parasites are compared. Note that Max_IBC is plotted on a logarithmic scale. B, The cumulative distribution for Max_IBC at day 8 after primary release, with Max_IBC plotted on a linear scale. C, The fraction of simulations for which Max_IBC exceeds 10⁴/µL and 10⁵/µL at 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 days after primary release. The same gray-scale code for IMF is used for all panels. Abbreviation: RBC, red blood cell.