Label-free 3D Imaging of Parasitic Infections in Live Cells

Imaging parasites inside living host cells has long been constrained by the need for staining or genetic modification that interfere with cell viability. Holotomography visualizes parasites in live red blood cells in 3D using their intrinsic refractive index contrast, enabling quantitative analysis of infection-related changes without any labeling. This note demonstrates HT's potential as a fast, non-invasive tool for studying parasitic infection dynamics and host cell responses.

What's inside

- Label-free 3D visualization of P. falciparum life cycle stages (ring, trophozoite, schizont) inside live RBCs

- Quantitative analysis of hemozoin formation and hemoglobin content in malaria-infected RBCs

- Imaging of Babesia microti parasitic vacuoles and membrane deformability in mouse RBCs

- Membrane fluctuation and dry mass measurements as biophysical markers of infection severity

Keywords

malaria imaging parasite detection Plasmodium falciparum Babesia microti label-free microscopy holotomography refractive index tomography red blood cell imaging hemozoin parasitology live cell imaging infectious disease 3D cell imaging

Download the Application Note

First name*

Last name*

Title

Company*

Region*

Country*

Interested Product*

E-mail*

Comment

I have read and agree to the Terms and Policies.