|
|
|
|
|
|
WEHI-TV
The Infection Pathway of Malaria Parasite
These malaria animations illustrate important moments of the
parasite's lifecycle: infection of the human victim through the mosquito's
proboscis; invading and incubating in the liver; penetrating and feeding upon
red blood cells, multiplying and spreading to other blood cells.
This series of animations were designed to explain recent
discoveries made by Dr Alan Cowman and his laboratory at The Walter
and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research. The 3D models used in the
animations were based on examination and measurements from electron
micrographs of parasites invading red blood cells.
These animations need Quicktime 7 to view.
You can download Quicktime player from Apple for
Macintosh or
Windows.
Note, these animations are each about 0.5MB to 1.5MB in size.
|
Select an animation from the table below
|
|
|
Displayed Animation: Mosquito
Displayed Animation: Penetrate
Displayed Animation: Burst
Displayed Animation: Gene Target
|
|
|
This short sequence illustrates a mosquito biting its victim. The malaria parasite enters the blood stream in the mosquito's saliva, travels to the liver and incubates for several days. During incubation the parasite transforms itself into a red blood cell invading form.
This sequence illustrates the parasite (blue) penetrating a red blood cell. After entering the cell, the parasite consumes the contents of the cell and causes it to express 'sticky bumps' on its surface. The parasite's method of penetrating a red blood cell was derived from many discussions with the scientists and from low quality time-lapse footage.
The 'sticky bumps' on the infected blood cell help it to stick to the walls of an artery, giving the parasite enough time to incubate and multiply.
This animation illustrates the work by Dr Alan Cowman's lab: A DNA loop (plasmid) was designed to target and disrupt a gene involved in the production of the 'sticky bumps'. When this gene is disrupted, the infected cell does not produce the bumps, and cannot stick to the walls of blood vessels. This cell would then be filtered out of the body by the liver.
|
|
All media and images contained on this site are
© Copyright 2008 The Walter & Eliza Hall Institute.
For further information, contact
the Webmaster or contact WEHI-TV
Back to WEHI-TV
|
|
| |
|
|
