Figure 3

Identification of DNA fragmentation by fluorescent TUNEL assay. Images of P. berghei ookinetes with fragmented DNA marked using a TUNEL assay (In situ cell death detection kit, Fluorescein, Roche) at 21 hours post culture. Positive cells show a bright green nucleus. Negative controls were incubated with only the label solution without the enzyme and positive controls had DNA strand breaks induced with DNase 1 recombinant (3 units/ml for 10 mins at 20°C) before labelling (DNase 1 recombinant, grade 1, Roche). DAPI staining was used to check the location of the nucleus. More detailed methodology is available in Additional file 1.