Skip to main content
Advertisement
  • Loading metrics

PLoS Pathogens Issue Image | Vol. 19(11) December 2023

A natural killer cell contacting a P. falciparum infected erythrocyte.

Scanning electron microscopy image of a human natural killer (NK) cell (in blue) contacting a P. falciparum infected erythrocyte (red) in the presence of antibodies from individuals exposed to malaria. The initial contact shown here precedes the formation of tight immunological synapses that depend on specific receptor–ligand interactions between NK cells and infected erythrocytes. NK cells inflict damage to the erythrocyte plasma membrane and kill parasites that develop within intracellular vacuoles. Sekar et al 2023

Image Credit: David Dorward and Anita Mora (Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

thumbnail
A natural killer cell contacting a P. falciparum infected erythrocyte.

Scanning electron microscopy image of a human natural killer (NK) cell (in blue) contacting a P. falciparum infected erythrocyte (red) in the presence of antibodies from individuals exposed to malaria. The initial contact shown here precedes the formation of tight immunological synapses that depend on specific receptor–ligand interactions between NK cells and infected erythrocytes. NK cells inflict damage to the erythrocyte plasma membrane and kill parasites that develop within intracellular vacuoles. Sekar et al 2023

Image Credit: David Dorward and Anita Mora (Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

https://doi.org/10.1371/image.ppat.v19.i11.g001