Characterization of Babesia divergens human erythrocyte infection
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Characterization of Babesia divergens human erythrocyte infection by cryo-ET in lamellae generated by cryo-FIB milling
IRAS ID
288313
Contact name
Daniel Luque
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Babesiosis is a disease caused by a parasite named Babesia. Babesiosis possess many clinical features that are similar to those of malaria. This worldwide disease, transmitted by ticks and occasionally transfusion, is increasing in frequency and geographical range, and has an important impact on human and animal health. Notably, Babesia can cause death in humans unless treated promptly. When Babesia infects humans it grows within red blood cells (RBC) or erythrocytes. During the infection, Babesia builds a population of parasites of different forms and sizes within the RBCs. These important features of Babesia are largely unexplored. We want therefore use three dimensional (3D) imaging techniques to obtain a high quality images of Babesia inside the human RBC. This study will be conducted between the National Center of Microbiology, Madrid, Spain and the UK National synchrotron Diamond Light Source Ltd., Oxford, UK. For this study, human RBC from Spanish healthy donors will be used. The human RBCs and protocols were approved for use by the Blood Transfusion Center, Madrid, Spain and donors were informed about this study and provided informed written consent for use of their RBCs for this research purposes.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/YH/0302
Date of REC Opinion
2 Dec 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion