An Experimental Human Blood-Stage Model for Studying Plasmodium malariae Infection

Abstract

Background Plasmodium malariae is considered a minor malaria parasite, although its global disease burden is underappreciated. The aim of this study was to develop an induced blood-stage malaria (IBSM) model of P. malariae to study parasite biology, diagnostic assays, and treatment. Methods This clinical trial involved 2 healthy subjects who were intravenously inoculated with cryopreserved P. malariae–infected erythrocytes. Subjects were treated with artemether-lumefantrine after development of clinical symptoms. Prior to antimalarial therapy, mosquito-feeding assays were performed to investigate transmission, and blood samples were collected for rapid diagnostic testing and parasite transc..