Tobi S. answered • 08/17/22
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The malaria parasites (genus Plasmodium) infect the RBCs in the merozoite stage. The merozoites are haploid (one copy of each chromosome) cells that divide by mitosis to make more cells. They do not rely on the RBC's transcription and translation machinery since the malaria merozoites are cells themselves. Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions.
Tobi S.
tutor
Terrific question! A quick review then I’ll get right to the answer. MHC 1 is used by CD8 T cells to identify and kill infected or altered self cells. MHC 2 is used by CD4 cells to become activated causing them to release cytokines. Only a limited type of cells, the antigen presenting cells, have MHC 2. However, and here’s your answer, all cells except RBCs, have MHC 1. You see, the merozoites hide in the RBCs! Without any MHC on their surface, no parasite proteins can be detected by the T cells. Clever, right?!
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08/18/22
Interested P.
That explains a lot! Thanks for the answer... I have 1 more question. So, like all the other cells they have to be distinguished between self and other so they some proteins through MHC Class 1 & 2 Systems to be seen from cd8 & cd4 cells or (T-killer cells). Why dont blood redcells(RBCs) get detected by them?? I mean what's stopping them from releasing these proteins in the cell membrane?08/18/22