Claire H Caygill, Salwa Omar Alqurashi, Adriana Adolfi, Jessica Carson, Angelika Sturm, Daniel S Evans, Jess B Jinks, Koen J Dechering, Lisa Reimer, Shaun H Pennington, Parveen Sharma, Stephen A Ward, Giancarlo A Biagini
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Current liver-stage Plasmodium falciparum models are complex, expensive and largely inaccessible, hindering research progress. Here, we show that a 3D liver spheroid model grown from immortalized HepG2/C3A cells supports the complete intrahepatocytic lifecycle of P. falciparum. Our results demonstrate sporozoite infection, development of exoerythrocytic forms and breakthrough infection into erythrocytes. The 3D-grown spheroid hepatocytes are structurally and functionally polarized, displaying enhanced albumin and urea production and increased expression of key metabolic enzymes, mimicking in vivo conditions - relative to 2D cultures. This accessible, reproducible model lowers barriers to malaria research, promoting advancements in fundamental biology and translational research.
期刊介绍：
Parasitology is an important specialist journal covering the latest advances in the subject. It publishes original research and review papers on all aspects of parasitology and host-parasite relationships, including the latest discoveries in parasite biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics, ecology and epidemiology in the context of the biological, medical and veterinary sciences. Included in the subscription price are two special issues which contain reviews of current hot topics, one of which is the proceedings of the annual Symposia of the British Society for Parasitology, while the second, covering areas of significant topical interest, is commissioned by the editors and the editorial board.
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