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Platelets Kill Intraerythrocytic Malarial Parasites and Mediate Survival to Infection
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 00:36 authored by McMorran, BJ, Marshall, VM, de Graaf, C, Drysdale, KE, Shabbar, M, Smyth, GK, Corbin, JE, Alexander, WS, Simon James FooteSimon James FootePlatelets play a critical role in the pathogenesis of malarial infections by encouraging the sequestration of infected red blood cells within the cerebral vasculature. But platelets also have well-established roles in innate protection against microbial infections. We found that purified human platelets killed Plasmodium falciparum parasites cultured in red blood cells. Inhibition of platelet function by aspirin and other platelet inhibitors abrogated the lethal effect human platelets exert on P. falciparum parasites. Likewise, platelet-deficient and aspirin-treated mice were more susceptible to death during erythrocytic infection with Plasmodium chabaudi. Both mouse and human platelets bind malarial-infected red cells and kill the parasite within. These results indicate a protective function for platelets in the early stages of erythrocytic infection distinct from their role in cerebral malaria.
History
Publication title
ScienceVolume
323Issue
5915Pagination
797-800ISSN
0036-8075Department/School
Menzies Institute for Medical ResearchPublisher
Amer Assoc Advancement SciencePlace of publication
1200 New York Ave, Nw, Washington, USA, Dc, 20005Repository Status
- Restricted