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Lipidic Vacuoles in Plasmodium knowlesi Erythrocytic Schizonts
Author(s) -
BANNISTER L. H.,
MITCHELL G. H.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
the journal of protozoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 0022-3921
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1986.tb05605.x
Subject(s) - plasmodium knowlesi , vacuole , budding , tannic acid , biology , electron microscope , plasmodium (life cycle) , glutaraldehyde , microbiology and biotechnology , parasite hosting , chemistry , biophysics , botany , cytoplasm , plasmodium falciparum , malaria , chromatography , immunology , physics , optics , plasmodium vivax , world wide web , computer science
. Electron microscopy of schizont development in erythrocytic Plasmodium knowlesi has revealed that spheroidal vacuoles 250 nm in diameter with semi‐dense contents appear at the periphery of the parasite prior to the budding of merozoites. When treated with non‐polar solvents, their contents are completely extracted, and after fixation in tannic‐glutaraldehyde they contain regular lamellae with a periodicity of 5.5 nm. Both of these reactions are typical of lipids. Some of these structures are associated with phagosomal vacuoles which may contribute to their lamellae. They disappear at the onset of merozoite formation, but membranous whorls of various sizes continue to be associated with the schizont surface during budding of merozoites. It is suggested that the lipidic vacuoles are a source of preformed lipid which can be utilized rapidly during the generation of merozoites.