The Ultrastructure of Virus-Like Particles in Malaria Parasites.

摘要

This work presents ultrastructural observations of virus-like particles in the sporogonous cycle of P. berghei, P. c. bastianelli and P. gallinaceum as well as in ookinete preparations of P. berghei. The particles are about 50 nm in diameter, are sometimes arranged in a geometric crystal configuration and have a limiting membrane or envelope. A curious staining phenomenon suggests that the viral nucleoid is DNA containing. The possiblility that the virus-like particles may be involved in early vacuolation of the differentiating oocyst is discussed. Further attempts to characterize the virus-like particles were inconclusive. As an interesting by-product of these investigations, observations of P. berghei ookinete and gametocyte forms were made.