Figure 4

Schizont swelling in protein-free medium inhibits parasite release. A. Synchronized culture of P. falciparum was placed in different compositions of RPMI medium (with or without 0.5% AlbuMax) and immediately injected into the chambers for the release assay. The release assay was performed as described. Result presented as mean of 300 counted cells ± s.e. n = 6–8 experiments. Inset: DIC images of normal (upper) and swelled, ballooned, (lower) schizonts. Scale bar equals 5 μm. B. Cells were prepared as described in Figure 4A and relative rates of parasite releases were evaluated. Data presented as mean of 300 counted cells ± s.e. n = 5 experiments.