Mechanical Characterization of the Erythrocyte Membrane Using a Capacitor-Based Technique.

Pathological processes often change the mechanical properties of cells. Increased rigidity could be a marker of cellular malfunction. Erythrocytes are a type of cell that deforms to squeeze through tiny capillaries; changes in their rigidity can dramatically affect their functionality.

Invasion and Erythrocyte Aging.

parasites need to find red blood cells (RBCs) that, on the one hand, expose receptors for the pathogen ligands and, on the other hand, maintain the right geometry to facilitate merozoite attachment and entry into the red blood cell. Both characteristics change with the maturation of erythrocytes. Some Plasmodia prefer younger vs.

Semisynthesis, Antiplasmodial Activity, and Mechanism of Action Studies of Isocoumarin Derivatives.

In this study, eight natural isocoumarins (-) were isolated from a marine-derived sp. fungus. To explore their structure-activity relationship and discover potent antimalarial leads, a small library of 22 new derivatives (-, , -, -, and ) were semisynthesized by varying the substituents of the aromatic ring and the aliphatic side chains.