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Fig. 3 | Malaria Journal

Fig. 3

From: The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum in red blood cells selectively takes up serum proteins that affect host pathogenicity

Fig. 3

The serum proteins were taken up under sufficient Ca2+ levels in the culture medium. a Concentration of Ca2+ in PDS and NCS. Data represents the mean ± standard deviation (SD) for eight serum samples prepared using each method. b Comparison of parasitaemia and morphology of parasites cultured in NCS-containing medium with and without 2 mM CaCl2. (i) Parasitaemia. The ring stage-synchronized parasite culture (approximately 1% parasitaemia) was incubated with or without 2 mM CaCl2 for 48 h. (ii) Light microscopy images of parasites. The scale bar represents 10 µm. c–e Western blotting analysis of serum proteins. Samples were prepared using the precipitation method and were treated with saponin. c Uptake of serum proteins after the addition of 2 mM CaCl2 to NCS. d Uptake of serum proteins before (pre) and after (post) removal of Ca2+ from PDS by dialysis. e Uptake of serum proteins after removal of Ca2+ by the addition of 2.5 mM chelators (EDTA, EGTA, or sodium citrate). Approximately 5 IU/mL heparin, a non-chelating reagent, was added as a negative control. The asterisk indicates a non-specific band. All samples were prepared from 3D7 strain

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