Table 1 Variation in rates of apoptosis and temporal patterns observed in malaria parasites.

P. berghei

ookinetes

In vitro

Condensed chromatin

Acridine orange (Sigma)

18 hrs - 15.5 (±1.06)%

18 hrs - 34.5 (±1.76)%

[83]

in PBS suspension

22 hrs - 55.8 (±13.68)%

26 hrs - 49.01 (±5.51)%

Fragmented DNA

TUNEL (histochemical, Calbiochem, UK)

18 hrs - 48.55 (±6.01)%

or

22 hrs - 64.19 (±6.09)%

26 hrs - 69.89 (±2.81)%

In RPMI

Caspase-like activity

CaspaTag (Chemicon international, USA)

18 hrs - 17.0 (±2.12)

18 hrs - 30.15 (±2.14)%

22 hrs - 43.8 (±1.53)%

18 hrs - 47.72(±3.93)%

Translocation of phosphatidylserine

Annexin V- FITC apoptosis detection kit (Sigma, UK)

18 hrs - 19.57 (±1.88)%

22 hrs - 28.33 (±5.61)%

26 hrs - 30.12 (±2.75)%

Mitochondrial membrane potential

JC-1 assay kit (Molecular Probes, UK)

18 hrs - 34.38 (±2.95)%

ookinetes

[24]

In vitro In RPMI

Condensed chromatin

Acridine orange (Sigma)

24 hrs - 31%

36 hrs - 80%

ookinetes & zygotes mix

In vivo

Condensed chromatin

Acridine orange (Sigma)

18, 20 & 24 hrs - all over 60%

ookinetes

[77]

In vitro

Translocation of phosphatidylserine

Annexin-FITC Apoptosis Detection Kit (Sigma, UK)

<3% (assay time not reported)

Fragmented DNA

ApopTag^® Fluorescein In Situ Apoptosis Detection Kit (Chemicon International)

No positive cells observed (assay time not reported)

Condensed chromatin

Acridine orange (Sigma)

No positive cells observed (assay time not reported)

Caspase-like activity

CaspaTag (Chemicon international, USA)

21 hrs - 3.8 (±0.05)%

24 hrs - 14 (±9.00)%

ookinetes

*

In vitro In RPMI

Caspase-like activity

CaspaTag (Chemicon international, USA)

15 hrs - 13.70 (±12.20)%

18 hrs - 13.06 (±6.42)%

21 hrs - 45.90 (±11.00)%

24 hrs - 67.94 (±4.83)%

ookinetes

In vitro In RPMI

Fragmented DNA

In situ cell death detection kit, Flourescein (Roche)

15 hrs - 9.38 (±4.44)%

18 hrs - 14.57 (±3.29)%

21 hrs - 22.08(±8.96)%

24 hrs - 9.24 (±3.09)%

ookinetes

$

In vitro In RPMI

Caspase-like activity

CaspaTag (Chemicon international, USA)

18 hrs - 20.06 (±3.50)%

P. yoellii

ookinetes

*

In vitro In RPMI

Caspase-like activity

CaspaTag (Chemicon international, USA)

15 hrs - No positive cells observed

18 hrs - 4.85 (±1.40)%

21 hrs - 62.8 (±11.10)%

24 hrs - 92.59 (±7.41)%

ookinetes

In vitro In RPMI

Fragmented DNA

In situ cell death detection kit, Flourescein (Roche)

15 hrs - 7.29 (±3.84)%

18 hrs - 7.41 (±4.90)%

21 hrs - 6.09 (±2.92)%

24 hrs - 9.70 (±0.36)%

P. falciparum

ookinete

[25]

In vivo

Fragmented DNA

TUNEL (histochemical, Calbiochem, UK)

24 hrs - 67.8 (±2.82)%

Asexual blood stages (trophozoites & schizonts)

[23]

In vivo after treatment with chloroquine

Loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential

Carbocyanine dye JC-1

Timings and proportions positive not reported

Fragmented DNA

TUNEL (fluorescent, Roche)

[26]

In vivo after treatment with chloroquine

DNA laddering

After electrophoresis, Southern blotting and autoradiography, a ladder pattern observed

Timings and proportions positive not reported

P. falciparum

Asexual blood stages

[38]

In vivo after treatment with chloroquine (CQ) or staurosporine (ST)

Loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential

Cell-permeable lipophillic cation probe JC-1 (Molecular probes, Eugene, USA)

10% in untreated cultures increased to 31% (CQ) and 25% (ST)

Caspase-like activity

CaspaTag (Chemicon international, USA)

10% in untreated cultures increased to 34% (CQ) and 32% (ST)

Fragmented DNA

ApoDirect DNA fragmentation assay kit (Clontech, San Diego, USA)

10% in untreated cultures increased to 27% (CQ) and 56% (ST)