BPoD has moved!

BPoD has recently changed our domain name - we can now be found at bpod.org.uk

Please update your bookmarks!

Now in our 13th year of bringing you beautiful imagery from biomedical science every day

Search the archive of over 4000 images

Malaria Morphs
13 November 2012

Malaria Morphs

The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is a master shape-shifter that morphs continuously during its complex life-cycle to exploit and evade its human and mosquito hosts. Here, captured at four different points during a nine day period, the parasite is transforming within a red blood cell (left to right) from a rounded form to a crescent shaped gametocyte. P. falciparum’s gametocyte is vital for reproduction and could be the parasite’s Achilles heel. Highly sensitive microscopic techniques have revealed that to assist the shape change, the parasite assembles a scaffold of proteins (marked green). Once transformed into its curvaceous form, the parasite travels unhindered through the blood stream and is sucked up by its new mosquito host where it mates and reproduces. Scientists are looking for ways to interrupt the scaffold assembly and so break the parasite’s life-cycle to halt its spread.

Written by Caroline Cross

Search The Archive

Submit An Image

Follow on Tumblr

Follow on Instagram

What is BPoD?

BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

Read More

BPoD is also available in Catalan at www.bpod.cat with translations by the University of Valencia.