Selectivity properties of pores induced in host erythrocyte membrane by Plasmodium falciparum. Effect of parasite maturation.

The intraerythrocytic malarial parasite permeabilizes its host cell membrane by inducing pore-like pathways which mediate the passage of nonelectrolytes and anions. In the present work we show that, although the permeability increases with parasite maturation, the selectivity of the pores to various solutes is essentially preserved, suggesting that the number of pores increases without any alteration in their intrinsic solute conductance.