Characterizations of individual mouse red blood cells parasitized by Babesia microti using 3-D holographic microscopy

TL;DR

This study employs 3-D holographic microscopy to analyze structural, chemical, and mechanical changes in individual mouse red blood cells parasitized by Babesia microti, providing detailed insights at the single-cell level.

Contribution

It introduces a quantitative phase imaging approach to characterize individual B. microti-infected RBCs, revealing new structural and mechanical details of infection effects.

Findings

3-D refractive index maps of infected RBCs and parasite vacuoles

Quantification of dry mass and concentration in Bm-RBCs

Analysis of membrane fluctuation indicating cell deformability

Abstract

Babesia microti causes emergency human babesiosis. However, little is known about the alterations in B. microti invaded red blood cells (Bm-RBCs) at the individual cell level. Through quantitative phase imaging techniques based on laser interferometry, we present the simultaneous measurements of structural, chemical, and mechanical modifications in individual mouse Bm-RBCs. 3-D refractive index maps of individual RBCs and in situ parasite vacuoles are imaged, from which total contents and concentration of dry mass are also precisely quantified. In addition, we examine the dynamic membrane fluctuation of Bm-RBCs, which provide information on cell membrane deformability.