image: This shows a diagram summarizing the findings of this report. It shows that upon binding to a parasite-infected cell, the platelet releases platelet factor molecule, which then binds to the red cell Duffy molecule. The Duffy-PF4 molecule is transported into the parasite where the PF4 kills the parasite. This image relates to a paper that appeared in the Dec. 7, 2012, issue of Science, published by AAAS. The paper, by Brendan McMorran at Macquarie University in Sydney, NSW, Australia, and colleagues was titled, “Platelet Factor 4 and Duffy Antigen Required for Platelet Killing of Plasmodium falciparum.” view more
Credit: [Image courtesy of Brendan McMorran and Golda Mitchell, Macquarie University]