The isolation and fractionation of malaria-infected cells

Abstract

This paper is a critical review of procedures for the isolation of malarial parasites from host cells and their fractionation. The procedures are grouped according to the stage of parasite being isolated, and the procedures for isolation of the erythrocytic stages are further grouped by techniques used. Some types of procedure are described for isolation of all stages of the parasite, both those in the invertebrate and vertebrate hosts. The uses and limitations of the various procedures are described. It is concluded that all the procedures are useful for some purposes, but that from a morphological standpoint only natural release in culture and continuous flow oscillation provide large yields of intact erythrocytic parasites free of host cell membranes.