Routine In Vitro Culture of Plasmodium falciparum: Experimental Consequences?

The advent of Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) in vitro culturing opened the door for malaria research, yielding dramatic advancements in our understanding of the parasite. However, fundamental foundations taken for granted in our research endeavors can unknowingly be an Achilles heel, resulting in potent...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Trends in parasitology 2018-07, Vol.34 (7), p.564-575
Main Authors: Duffy, Sandra, Avery, Vicky M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
artemisinin
extracellular vesicles
hyperoxia
malaria
Plasmodium
serum
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Summary:The advent of Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) in vitro culturing opened the door for malaria research, yielding dramatic advancements in our understanding of the parasite. However, fundamental foundations taken for granted in our research endeavors can unknowingly be an Achilles heel, resulting in potential misdirection. In relation to malaria research, this could be our nonquestioning acceptance of routine in vitro culture of Pf. There is nothing routine or straightforward regarding the dynamic and intimate relationship between the parasite and the in vitro environment. Here, we discuss recent studies demonstrating the impact that slight variations in in vitro Pf culture parameters can have on scientific conclusions. We reason that culture conditions should be re-established as a primary consideration in in vitro malaria experimentation. In vitro cultivation of Pf is essential for basic biological and drug-discovery malaria research. Studies on the effects of in vitro culturing techniques and reagents have highlighted effects on parasite biology at the molecular level. These effects may not always be obvious within a study but do have consequences in relation to data obtained and therefore the analysis and interpretation. Detailed reporting of culturing protocols is essential, and comparisons between alternative protocols within multicentre, multiresearch studies should be acknowledged and discussed. The influence of in vitro culturing conditions of Pf within the study of artemisinin resistance is of particular interest as it appears to influence genetic markers obtained for artemisinin-resistant parasites generated by drug selection in vitro.
ISSN:1471-4922
1471-5007
DOI:10.1016/j.pt.2018.04.005