Table 1 List of model assumptions

1

The general scheme shown in Fig. 8 is assumed to represent sufficiently well the real physiological interactions between the host cells and the parasites

2

Reticulocytes are produced and released from the bone marrow at a rate of P_t and with a remaining maturation time of 121 ARR_t, at the end of which they become mature RBCs

2.1

Reticulocytes are not subject to random or senescent death as they become mature RBCs within one to 2 days after entering circulation

2.2

Reticulocytes may be infected by the parasite

3

Mature RBCs are, theoretically, allowed to live for up to 160 days

3.1

Random death removes 10% of all produced RBCs

3.2

Senescent death follows a hazard function that causes RBCs to have a mean lifespan of 98 days

3.3

Mature RBCs can be lost due to invasion by a parasite

3.4

Mature RBCs may be lost due to the bystander effect

4

Free merozoites live only for 1 h, during which time they infect reticulocytes and RBCs

4.1

Merozoites have a reported 477.2:1 preference for reticulocytes over RBCs

4.2

Among mature RBCs, merozoites have an age preference that leads a younger RBC to be two times more likely to be infected than a RBC 11 days older

5

Infected RBCs live for 2 days and then burst, releasing a new brood of merozoites

5.1

Infected RBCs are removed by the immune response