Growing Babesia microti in human red blood cells
Designing a Robust Platform for the In vitro Propagation of Babesia Microti in Human RBCs
This project aims to create a lab method to keep Babesia microti growing in human red blood cells so researchers can learn how the parasite gets into and multiplies inside those cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York Blood Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11247976 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will try to establish a continuous culture of B. microti using human red blood cells from different sources (adult blood, umbilical cord blood, and blood from people with hemochromatosis) and parasite material from infected mice and humans. They will separate and sort red blood cell subtypes, test different culture media, serum/lipid and vitamin/mineral additives, and adjust gas conditions to find what supports parasite growth. The team will use FACS and Giemsa staining to measure infection levels and will monitor parasite exit and re-entry into red cells to confirm ongoing propagation. This platform is intended to enable later work to identify the specific human red cell receptors and parasite ligands that allow invasion.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who could potentially participate include blood donors, umbilical cord blood donors, individuals with hemochromatosis willing to give samples, and people with documented babesiosis whose samples could provide parasite material.
Not a fit: This project will not provide direct treatment or immediate medical benefit to participants and is unlikely to help someone looking for immediate care for babesiosis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could speed up discovery of diagnostics, drugs, and vaccines by giving researchers a dependable lab system to study how Babesia infects red blood cells.
How similar studies have performed: Continuous in vitro culture of B. microti has been difficult historically, so this approach is relatively novel though similar culture methods have succeeded for other red-cell parasites.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York Blood Center — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lobo, Cheryl Ann — New York Blood Center
- Study coordinator: Lobo, Cheryl Ann
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.