Fig. 2

Simplified diagram of the model. In the absence of an infection, reticulocytes (Ret) are produced through erythropoiesis and mature into RBCs (RBC). These are prone to be removed by the physiological removal processes (Removal Procs). In the presence of an infection (processes depicted in blue), merozoites (M) invade both reticulocytes and RBCs, thereby generating infected RBCs (iRBC). At the end of the parasites’ intraerythrocytic development cycle, the infected RBCs burst and release a new brood of merozoites. Up-regulation of the immune-response (I) leads to removal of infected RBCs and ideally to control of the parasitaemia. The presence of an infection may also cause loss of RBCs by other means besides parasite invasion (Bystander eff.)