Parasites were cultured according to the method described by Trager and Jensen [5 (link)], with modifications [6 (link)]. Briefly, parasites were maintained in human erythrocytes (O ±, Blood Bank, EFS, Toulouse, France) routinely at 0.5–4% parasitaemia in culture medium (haematocrit: 2–4%). The culture medium consisted of RPMI (Cambrex, Belgium) complemented with 25 mM Hepes (Cambrex) and 2 mM glutamine (Sigma, l'Isle d'Abeau, France) and supplemented with 7.5% human serum (EFS). The knob+ strains (FcB1-Colombia, W2-Indochina and F32-Tanzania) were concentrated by flotation with Plasmion® (Fresenius Kabi France) followed by 5% D-sorbitol (Sigma) lysis [2 (link)]. The knobby-strain (FcM29-Cameroon) was only synchronized by 5% D-sorbitol lysis every 48 hrs [7 (link)].
Gametocyte cultures of strain W2 were initiated as described elsewhere [8 (link)], with minor modifications [9 (link)]. Cultures were then treated with 50 mM N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (Sigma) for 3–5 days to remove most of the asexual stages. Young (stage II, 7-day-old) or old (stage IV–V, 13-day-old) gametocyte cultures were tested for magnetic enrichment.
Gametocyte cultures of strain W2 were initiated as described elsewhere [8 (link)], with minor modifications [9 (link)]. Cultures were then treated with 50 mM N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (Sigma) for 3–5 days to remove most of the asexual stages. Young (stage II, 7-day-old) or old (stage IV–V, 13-day-old) gametocyte cultures were tested for magnetic enrichment.
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