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Fig. 6 | Malaria Journal

Fig. 6

From: Analysis of erythrocyte dynamics in Rhesus macaque monkeys during infection with Plasmodium cynomolgi

Fig. 6

Comparison of the reticulocyte response during the first few days of infection. Experimental data for reticulocytes and infected RBCs are compared across the four macaques. a RFa14; b RMe14; c RSb14; d primary peak of infection for RIc14; e relapse infection for RIc14. In e, the dotted gray line depicts the simulation results obtained under the assumption that the maturation time of reticulocytes remains unchanged at 26 h and highlights the need to assume that an increase in the maturation is required to fit the experimental data. The best fitted models for each macaque are shown here, where each assumes a different reticulocyte-RBC preference ratio (RFa14 15:1; RMe14 1:1; RSb14 100:1; RIc14 10:1). In all cases, the predicted reticulocyte maturation time is at or close to its maximum when parasitaemia becomes patent, and so are the levels of reticulocytes needed to feed the ever growing number of parasites. The unknown mechanism or signal causing this increase in the reticulocyte maturation time seems to be occurring at the point where the blood infection starts between Days 5 and 7

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