MTRAP Is Expressed in Sexual Stages of P. falciparum (A) Fluorescence microscopy with anti-PfMTRAP (green), anti-Pfg377 (red), and DAPI (blue) in wildtype P. falciparum sexual stages matured in vitro. Stages III, IV, and V gametocytes are shown. BF, brightfield. Scale bar, 5 mm. MTRAP was strongly detected in the sexual stages. When synchronous P. falciparum gametocytes at stages III, IV, or V of maturation were analyzed by immunofluorescence assay, MTRAP was detected predominantly in stage V gametocytes and only weakly in stages.(B) Fluorescence microscopy with anti-PfMTRAP (green), anti-Band3 (red), and DAPI (blue) in wildtype P. falciparum sexual stages matured in vitro. A gametocyte nonactivated (preactivation), a gametocyte activated for 30 s in vitro, and an egressed gamete after 600 s of activation in vitro are shown. BF, brightfield. Scale bar, 5 mm. The pattern of MTRAP staining was thus followed over time during P. falciparum gametocyte activation. Prior to activation, crescent-shaped gametocytes, displaying peripheral MTRAP staining, were surrounded by an intact EM labeled with anti-Band3 antibody.

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