Non-genetic red blood cell variability can modulate hemoglobin consumption by intracellular Plasmodium falciparum.

Non-genetic variability in red blood cell hemoglobin content significantly influences hemoglobin consumption by Plasmodium falciparum, with infected cells amplifying this host heterogeneity.

• Why it matters: Understanding how host cell differences affect parasite behavior is crucial for improving infection models and developing targeted therapies, yet this aspect remains underexplored.
• What they did: Researchers used quantitative-phase imaging to measure hemoglobin levels in thousands of red blood cells and applied a minimal predator-prey model to explain the observed variability in parasite nutrient uptake.
• The result: Findings reveal that host cell phenotypic noise accounts for much of the variation in parasite feeding rates, suggesting that host heterogeneity should be integrated into disease modeling and treatment strategies.