The Increased Susceptibility of Young Red Cells to Invasion by the Malarial ParasitePlasmodium falciparum

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Abstract
SummaryThe relationship between red cell age and susceptibility to invasion by the malarial parasitePlasmodium falciparumhas been examined by several different methods including short‐term cultures of parasitized human blood. The results indicate that reticulocytes and young red cells are more susceptible to invasion by this parasite as compared with metabolically older cell populations. This is contrary to the current belief that red cells of all ages are invaded indiscriminately byP. falciparum.This observation has important theoretical, clinical and practical implications; its mechanism remains as yet unclear.