Hemozoin

Literature References: Polymerized heme produced as a detoxification response by malaria parasites and by blood-sucking insects. It is the end product of hemoglobin digestion in intraerythrocytic malaria parasites. Constituents include hematin and protein but the exact composition remains unclear. Identification: T. Carbone, Giorn. Regia. Acad. Med. Torino 39, 901 (1891). Biochemical characterization: P. Goldie et al., Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 43, 584 (1990). Identification in tissue: A D. Sullivan, S. R. Meshnick, Parasitol. Today 12, 161 (1996); of formation in insects: M. F. Oliveira et al., Nature 400, 517 (1999). Depression of cellular immunity: F. Turrini et al., ibid. 9, 297 (1993). Effect of antimalarials on depolymerization: A. V. Pandey, B. L. Tekwani, FEBS Lett. 402, 236 (1997). Review: P. Arese, E. Schwarzer, Ann. Trop. Med. Parasitol. 91, 501 (1997).