FIG 1.

P. falciparum parasites lacking apicoplasts undergo gametocytogenesis in the presence of IPP. (A) Scheme showing the experimental design where control and API-minus rings were subcultured for gametocytogenesis on day 0. Control and API-minus parasites were supplemented with IPP for the indicated times, and then medium without IPP supplementation was used until gametocytes were harvested for analysis. All conditions were harvested at day 13. (B) Representative Giemsa-stained smears of P. falciparum gametocytes at day 13 from controls with and without IPP supplementation and from API-minus gametocytes for which IPP supplementation was stopped as indicated in panel A. Stage V was not present in API-minus gametocytes for which IPP supplementation was stopped after 5 days of culture for gametocytogenesis. Nuclei are observed in purple and hemozoin crystals as dark dashes. Black arrows indicate abnormal nuclei. Scale bar indicates 2 μm.