Isolated malaria merozoites shown to trigger antibody-dependent NK cell activation
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Researchers have built a platform that synchronously releases and isolates invasion-competent Plasmodium falciparum merozoites from ex vivo cultures, and used it to show that antibody-opsonized merozoites activate human NK cells. Synchronization was achieved by reversibly blocking parasite egress with the PKG inhibitor ML10, holding parasites at the segmented schizont stage, followed by rapid merozoite release using liposome-based extrusion. The method recovered more than 75% of merozoites while preserving their structural integrity and invasive capacity. The work, published in Science Advances on October 23, 2026 (DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aeh3417), provides a tool for studying merozoite biology and antibody-mediated immune responses. How the platform is applied to vaccine and immunology research remains an open direction.
Written by a model from the reports · updated 3 hours ago
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- Sci AdvPickAccessing invasion-competent Plasmodium vivax merozoites reveals antibody-dependent NK cell activation.
Researchers established a platform for synchronized release and isolation of invasion-competent Plasmodium vivax merozoites from ex vivo cultures, and found that antibody-opsonized merozoites can activate human NK cells. Reversible inhibition of parasite egress with the PKG inhibitor ML10 synchronized parasites at the segmented schizont stage, then rapid release was achieved using a liposome-based extrusion approach; recovery exceeded 75% with structural integrity and invasive capacity preserved. The paper was published in Science Advances, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aeh3417.
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