Magneto-optical assessment of Plasmodium parasite growth via hemozoin crystal size.

Hemozoin is a natural biomarker formed during the hemoglobin metabolism of Plasmodium parasites, the causative agents of malaria. The rotating-crystal magneto-optical detection (RMOD) has been developed for its rapid and sensitive detection both in cell cultures and patient samples. In the current article we demonstrate that, besides quantifying the overall concentration of hemozoin produced by the parasites, RMOD can also track the size distribution of the hemozoin crystals.

Characterization of the dynamics of Plasmodium falciparum deoxynucleotide-triphosphate pool in a stage-specific manner.

Understanding and characterizing the molecular background of the maintenance of genomic integrity might be a major factor in comprehending the exceptional ability of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum to adapt at a fast pace to antimalarials. A balanced nucleotide pool is an essential factor for high-fidelity replication. The lack of detailed studies on deoxynucleotide-triphosphate (dNTP) pools in various intraerythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum motivated our present study.

Rapid and quantitative antimalarial drug efficacy testing via the magneto-optical detection of hemozoin.

Emergence of resistant Plasmodium species makes drug efficacy testing a crucial part of malaria control. Here we describe a novel assay for sensitive, fast and simple drug screening via the magneto-optical detection of hemozoin, a natural biomarker formed during the hemoglobin metabolism of Plasmodium species. By quantifying hemozoin production over the intraerythrocytic cycle, we reveal that hemozoin formation is already initiated by ~ 6-12 h old ring-stage parasites.