Fig. 6: NBPXa and DBPα are secreted gradually and continuously post egress. | Nature Communications

Fig. 6: NBPXa and DBPα are secreted gradually and continuously post egress.

From: Sequential roles for red blood cell binding proteins enable phased commitment to invasion for malaria parasites

Fig. 6

Live stills depicting NBPXa (a) or DBPα (b) secretion over a period of 3 min post egress. Secretion monitored by comparing the peak fluorescence intensity of the merozoite’s apical end, to the peak intensity at any point along its body (FR). Merozoite cartoons depict fluorescence pattern of each. NBPXa-mNG (c) or DBPα-mNG (d) FR values plotted over time +/- RBCs present. e NBPXa-mNG secretion with RBCs +/- anti-DARC antibody (f) DBPα-mNG secretion with RBCs and +/- NBPXa. For C-F, measurements were recorded every 30 s after egress (±5 s either side) for all merozoites from a given schizont that were in focus at each timepoint. Each dot represents the average FR value/schizont at a given timepoint. Error bars indicate ±SEM. FR values were fitted using non-linear regression and comparisons between curves were made using an extra sum-of-squares F-test; p values and number of schizonts (n) analysed for each group noted on graphs. Scale bars for (a) and (b) = 2 μm. Source data for (c–f) are provided as a Source Data file.

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