Fig 1: Serum proteins were selectively taken up by Plasmodium falciparum. a Western blotting analysis of serum proteins. “Serum” and “Lysate” indicate plasma-derived serum (PDS) and isolated parasite lysate prepared from infected red blood cells (iRBCs) cultured in PDS-containing medium. Samples were prepared using the Percoll method. SERA5 was used as an internal control. Protein S vitamin K-dependent protein S, AHSG alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein, C4BPA C4b-binding protein alpha chain, SERA5 serine repeat antigen 5. The asterisk indicates a non-specific band. b Confocal microscopy images showing localization of prothrombin (green), EXP2/3C (red), and DNA (cyan). Samples were fixed using the paraformaldehyde/glutaraldehyde fixation method. Scale bar represents 5 µm. c Confocal microscopy images showing the localization of prothrombin (red) and DNA (cyan). Samples were fixed using the methanol fixation method. The scale bar represents 5 µm. All samples were prepared from 3D7 strain