Atg8 in doxycycline-treated parasites. Synchronized ring stage P. falciparum D10 parasites expressing the apicoplast marker ACP-GFP were cultured in the presence of DMSO (Control) or doxycycline (2.5 mM Dox) for two full cycles, samples were collected at 30-hours (30-hrs) and 78-hours (70-hrs) time points, and processed for IFA using anti-Atg8 antibodies. The parasite images indicate that both control and treated parasites have strong signal over the elongated apicoplast at the 30-hours time point, indicating a healthy dividing apicoplast. The 78-hours control parasite have multiple intensely-stained apicoplasts, indicating that it has matured to multinucleate stage and the apicoplast has divided, whereas the treated parasites have weak fragmented signal, suggesting disruption of the apicoplast. Note that Atg8 signal pattern in the control and treated parasites mostly remains unchanged.

Navale R, Atul, Allanki AD, Sijwali PS. Characterization of the Autophagy Marker Protein Atg8 Reveals Atypical Features of Autophagy in Plasmodium falciparum. PLoS One. 2014 Nov 26;9(11):e113220