Reliable transfection of Plasmodium falciparum using non-commercial plasmid mini preparations

Abstract

Transfection of Plasmodium falciparum is instrumental in the research on this parasite. However, the actual transfection protocol has not changed significantly since the first description and it is generally believed that large amounts of highly pure plasmid DNA are needed for successful transfection. Here, we report the transfection of P. falciparum using a protocol based on non-commercial mini-preparations of plasmid DNA. This method permits the reliable transfection of P. falciparum using less resources and lower costs, with a success rate comparable with currently used methods. A moderate throughput may be achieved using this method, providing a first step towards systematic transfection approaches in this parasite.