Figure 3
From: PfRON3 is an erythrocyte-binding protein and a potential blood-stage vaccine candidate antigen
The expression and localization of PfRON3 in Plasmodium falciparum merozoites. (A) Detection of PfRON3 in schizonts. Lanes 1 and 2 represent healthy human red blood cells (negative control) and schizont-rich stage parasites. Two bands of approximately 260 and 180 kDa were detected in the schizont stage of the parasites (arrow-headed). (B) PfRON3 is expressed inside Plasmodium merozoites. Schizont stage parasites were dual-labeled with PfRON3-specific antibodies in combination with MSP1-42 antibodies. Nuclei are stained with DAPI. MSP1-42 protein was located at the merozoite membrane (red fluorescence) and RON3 was located inside merozoites (green fluorescence). (C) PfRON3 location shown via immunoelectronic microscopy. The section of merozoite in mature schizonts was labeled with purified rabbit anti-PfRON3 antibodies and subsequently detected with a secondary antibody conjugated with gold particles (arrow-headed). The black dots indicate signals from gold particles localized in the rhoptry body. Bar represents 200 nm.