An in vitro microassay to assess the ability of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes to bind to the human syncytiotrophoblast

Abstract

PROBLEM: Erythrocytes parasitized by matures stages of Plasmodium falciparum are frequently sequestered in human placenta. The consequences of this sequestration have been well described, but little is known about the mechanisms used by the parasite to concentrate in the placenta. METHOD OF STUDY: We developed an in vitro assay to study their binding capacity to the human syncytiotrophoblast. Our cytoadherence test was scaled down, and each step of the assay was optimized to enhance the sensitivity of our model. RESULTS: Cytoadherence assays between P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes and human trophoblasts are easily performed using low numbers of trophoblast cells. The process can also be used to carry out immunofluorescence and immunostaining techniques. CONCLUSIONS: The test may be adapted to any kind of cell, is inexpensive, and allows the culture of virtually any kind of cell for several weeks.