Abstract
We describe a highly sensitive real-time PCR to detect and measure the development of the liver-stages of malaria parasites in mice infected with sporozoites ranging in number from 25 to more than 164,000, using the same reaction conditions. Furthermore, this assay detects and measures parasite loads in the livers of mice exposed to the bite of a single malaria-infected Anopheles mosquito. This unique method should greatly facilitate studies aimed at evaluating very precisely the efficacy of anti-malarial experimental drug treatments and vaccination regimens in conditions of infection resembling those found in the field.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Anopheles
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DNA, Protozoan / chemistry
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DNA, Protozoan / genetics
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Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
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Liver / parasitology*
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Malaria / parasitology*
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Plasmodium yoelii / chemistry
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Plasmodium yoelii / genetics
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Plasmodium yoelii / growth & development*
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RNA, Protozoan / chemistry
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RNA, Protozoan / genetics
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RNA, Protozoan / isolation & purification
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RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / chemistry
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RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / genetics
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RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / isolation & purification
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Regression Analysis
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Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction*
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Sensitivity and Specificity
Substances
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DNA, Protozoan
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Fluorescent Dyes
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RNA, Protozoan
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RNA, Ribosomal, 18S