Fig. 4.

Crystalloids form via an assembly process. (A) Time course of the number of fluorescent spots/crystalloids per cell in cultured Plasmodium berghei parasite line PbLAP3/LCCL-KO ookinetes (open circles) at 18, 21 and 24 h post-gametogenesis, compared with parasite line PbLAP3/GFP ookinetes (closed circles). Horizontal lines denote mean values. Statistically significant differences are indicated: ^∗∗P < 0.001 and ^∗∗∗P < 0.0001 (Mann–Whitney). (B) Confocal microscope image (scale bar = 5 μm) and (C) transmission electron microscope image (scale bar = 500 nm) of ‘merging’ crystalloids in PbLAP3/LCCL-KO ookinetes. Crystalloids are encircled. (D) Confocal microscope image of a spherical young PbLAP3/LCCL-KO oocyst located on an Anopheles stephensi midgut, possessing a single large crystalloid. Scale bar = 5 μm.