Tropism of Plasmodium malariae for young red blood cells and the bone marrow
Abstract
Fundamental aspects of the biology of the third most prevalent human malaria species Plasmodium malariae, including the basis for its capacity to establish chronic, low-density infections associated with debilitating quartan fevers, remain poorly characterized, hampering control efforts. Here, we combined ex vivo flowcytometric profiling of P. malariae isolates with infection studies in a recently developed humanized mouse model. We demonstrate a 5-fold higher tropism of P. malariae compared to P. falciparum for immature red blood cells, challenging a nearly century-old paradigm, and -for the first time -provide evidence for the parasite's capacity to home to and infect host bone marrow. Collectively, these findings reveal key life cycle features of this enigmatic and neglected human malaria parasite.
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BibTeX
@article{mouyama2026tropism,
title = {{Tropism of Plasmodium malariae for young red blood cells and the bone marrow}},
author = {Barbara Mouyama and Vivienne Fey and Dorenda J.A. Schoorl and Malika Serra-Hassoun and Fidelis Ambinintsoa and Barclaye Ngossanga and Leticia Hartmann and Ayola Adegnika and Artur Scherf and Mario Recker and Rolf Fendel and Steffen Borrmann and Sylvie Garcia},
journal = {Emerging microbes \& infections},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1080/22221751.2026.2731507},
url = {https://pasteur.hal.science/pasteur-05803532v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Tropism of Plasmodium malariae for young red blood cells and the bone marrow
AU - Barbara Mouyama
AU - Vivienne Fey
AU - Dorenda J.A. Schoorl
AU - Malika Serra-Hassoun
AU - Fidelis Ambinintsoa
AU - Barclaye Ngossanga
AU - Leticia Hartmann
AU - Ayola Adegnika
AU - Artur Scherf
AU - Mario Recker
AU - Rolf Fendel
AU - Steffen Borrmann
AU - Sylvie Garcia
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/07
JO - Emerging microbes & infections
DO - 10.1080/22221751.2026.2731507
UR - https://pasteur.hal.science/pasteur-05803532v1
AB - Fundamental aspects of the biology of the third most prevalent human malaria species Plasmodium malariae, including the basis for its capacity to establish chronic, low-density infections associated with debilitating quartan fevers, remain poorly characterized, hampering control efforts. Here, we combined ex vivo flowcytometric profiling of P. malariae isolates with infection studies in a recently developed humanized mouse model. We demonstrate a 5-fold higher tropism of P. malariae compared to P. falciparum for immature red blood cells, challenging a nearly century-old paradigm, and -for the first time -provide evidence for the parasite's capacity to home to and infect host bone marrow. Collectively, these findings reveal key life cycle features of this enigmatic and neglected human malaria parasite.
SN - 2222-1751
SN - 2222-1751
ER -