Viola Introini

Invasion preferences suggest a possible role for Plasmodium falciparum parasites in the expansion of Duffy negativity in West and Central Africa

The paper investigates whether Plasmodium falciparum parasites preferentially invade Duffy-positive red blood cells and explores the evolutionary implications for Duffy negativity prevalence.

Microfluidic Platform for Automatic Quantification of Malaria Parasite Invasion Under Physiological Flow Conditions

This study develops a microfluidic platform to quantify malaria parasite invasion under physiological flow conditions and shows that flow significantly affects invasion, particularly in parasites lacking the PfEBA175 gene.

Febrile temperature enhances Plasmodium falciparum and neutrophil adhesion by disrupting the endothelial glycocalyx

The paper shows that fever increases adhesion of malaria parasites and neutrophils to brain blood vessels by damaging the endothelial glycocalyx, suggesting antipyretics could reduce disease severity.

Optical tweezers reveal that PfEBA and PfRH ligands, not PfMSP1, play a central role in Plasmodium-falciparum merozoite-erythrocyte attachment

The paper uses optical tweezers to measure merozoite-erythrocyte attachment forces and identifies PfEBA and PfRH ligands as critical for attachment, not PfMSP1.

Red blood cell tension controls Plasmodium falciparum invasion and protects against severe malaria in the Dantu blood group

The paper shows that Dantu blood group variant increases red blood cell tension, reducing Plasmodium falciparum invasion and protecting against severe malaria.