Parasite life cycles - Plasmodium falciparum

3 important questions on Parasite life cycles - Plasmodium falciparum

Describe the human liver stages (part a)

This is the exo-erythrocytic cycle
The mosquito injects sporozoites, which infect the liver cells.
The sporozoites mature into schizonts, which burst and release merozoites.

Describe the human blood stages (part b)

The merozoites infect red blood cells and become ring stage throphozoites.
The ring stage trophozoites mature into schizonts, which rupture and release merozoites.

Also, some of the ring stage trophozoites differentiate into male (microgametes) and female (macrogametes) gametocytes

Describe the mosquito stages (part c)


The gametocytes are ingested by the mosquito.
In the stomach, the microgametes penetrate the macrogametes, which creates zygotes.
The zygotes become ookinetes, which invade the midgut wall.

In the midgut wall, the ookinetes develop into oocysts.
The oocysts grow, rupure and release sporozoites.
The sporozoites migrate to the salivary glands.

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