On-line Detection of Plasmodium falciparum Sequestration By Thickness Shear Mode Sensors

The protozoan parasite Plasmodium falciparum is the only human malaria pathogen that exhibits a form of sequestration where late mature blood stages adhere to the endothelium, leading to diverse complications. This cytoadhesion is mediated by the parasites protein Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1), which is localized in the knobs of the infected red blood cell (iRBC). Adhesion of infected red blood cells (iRBC) to the main receptor CD36 was investigated for the first time by biosensors based on Thickness Shear Mode (TSM) under flow conditions.