Air-dried immunofluorescence assay (IFA) of D10 schizonts using monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) B4 (anti–ring surface protein [RSP]–2/RAP-2), 3A9/48 (anti–RAP-2), and 7H8/50 (anti RAP-1). The 2 proteins are a part of the rhoptry complex. This complex may either be transferred into the parasitophorous vacuole during the merozoite invasion process (default pathway) or, alternatively, tag erythrocytes during aborted merozoite invasion, which has been observed during in vitro culture.

Sterkers Y, Scheidig C, da Rocha M, Lepolard C, Gysin J, Scherf A. Members of the low-molecular-mass rhoptry protein complex of Plasmodium falciparum bind to the surface of normal erythrocytes. J Infect Dis. 2007 196:617-21.