Scientists study malaria-infected RBCs

Red blood cells (RBCs) become up to ten times stiffer when infected with malaria, a new study has found.

Scientists also revealed that the cells become stickier and also line the vasculature.

The latter means that they could affect a person's bloodflow, according to the study.

Dmitry Fedosov and George Karniadakis carried out the research, which is published by the American Institute of Physics.

The pair have undertaken research into the physical properties of cells which have been infected with malaria.

Their conclusions have been derived thanks to the measurement of membrane fluctuations in the cells studied.

Mr Fedosov said: "Our model predicts the dynamics of malaria-infected RBCs in the bloodstream, which anticipates the possible course of the disease."

Last week, Sanofi-aventis joined forces with Medicines for Malaria as part of a new scheme.

The initiative will see the ASAQ malaria treatment intensively tested to discover more about its effectiveness.

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