Secretome Analysis of Plasmodium falciparum intraerythrocytic Asexual Stage using SDS-PAGE Electrophoresis

Plasmodium falciparum causes fatal cerebral malaria and more knowledge is required on its proteome. Proteomic studies require the adaptation of P. falciparum field isolates to continuous in vitro cultivation. The objective of this study is to identify and characterize some of the proteins secreted by P. falciparum trophozoites in the host cell using in vitro conditions. For this purpose, propagation protocols of asexual erythrocytic stages of P. falciparum have been established. The parasites were grown in standard culture medium without human serum but supplemented by AlbuMax 1. The secreted proteins were characterized by gel electrophoresis. Two staining methods were used to detect the separated proteins. The secretome profile for P. falciparum was characterized that revealed over 24 excreted proteins. The protocols described here will be useful in functional analysis by proteomics of different pathogenic patient isolates.