Plasmodium malariae infection boosts Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte production

We analyzed records of malariotherapy patients sequentially or simultaneously inoculated with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium malariae. Gametocyte production was enhanced in P. falciparum by prior or concurrent P. malariae infection but diminished or unaffected in P. malariae by P. falciparum. Conversely, asexual-form c production was diminished in P. malariae but unaffected in P. falciparum.